Yesterday, the Committee on House Administration hosted its annual Legislative Data and Transparency Conference at the U.S. Capitol. Many Sunlighters were on hand to learn about progress and initiatives, including the Library of Congress' App Challenge, the U.S. Government Publishing Office's new website, and much more. Check out our Facebook page and the #ldtc17 hashtag on Twitter for more from the event, and our blog today. Keep reading for more open government news from DC and around the United States!
Continue readingIn Kansas City, residents have a new friend on Facebook: an open data chatbot
Just because data is open doesn’t mean it’s easy to use. Kansas City wants to see if its Facebook chatbot can change that.
Continue readingToday in OpenGov: Under pressure
Today we're getting an early start on our Independence Day celebrations with #TinyDeclaration, a contest co-sponsored by Slate and the National Archives to distill the Declaration of Independence down into a single tweet. You have until Thursday at Noon EDT to tweet your ideas @Slate. The winner will be announced during the National Archive's 4th of July Celebration. Read on for a full slate of #OpenGov news from Washington, around the U.S., and across the globe...
Continue readingToday in OpenGov: White House officials may have something to Confide
After a long weekend away, we're back with the latest open government news from Washington, around the U.S. and across the globe. Last week, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington and the National Security Archive filed a lawsuit concerning the White House's use of confidential messaging applications and its handling of the President's tweets. Read on for that story and much more.
Continue readingToday in OpenGov: Senate healthcare secrecy is the wrong prescription for ailing democracy
Yesterday, Sunlight's Executive Director John Wonderlich explained how unprecedented and dangerous the Senate's secretive healthcare process has been. Many hot-button issues like " the filibuster or the debt limit show how positions on legislative process are often dictated by party rather than principle, with the minority favoring transparency and obstruction, and the majority defending secrecy." This process is fundamentally different with a procedure "designed, from start to finish, to minimize transparency. Read on for more on this, and other #OpenGov news from around the United States and across the globe.
Continue readingUnprecedented secrecy in the Senate on health care bill is bad for democracy
The road to rebuilding public trust in Congress is paved with transparency and accountability to constituents, not secrecy. Every U.S. Senator should insist upon regular order, not sacrifice openness on the altar of naked legislative power.
Continue readingToday in OpenGov: A bad six months for transparency and American democracy
The Washington Post confirmed our concerns that transparency and open government have had a bad six months in Washington, DC. "More and more in the Trump era, business in Washington is happening behind closed doors. The federal government’s leaders are hiding from public scrutiny — and their penchant for secrecy represents a stark departure from the campaign promises of Trump and his fellow Republicans to usher in newfound transparency." But the news isn't all bad. Read on for more #OpenGov news from around the country and across the globe.
Continue readingToday in OpenGov: What can we learn from President Trump’s financial disclosures?
On Friday, the Office of Government Ethics released President Trump's most recent financial disclosure documents. While not a substitute for the President's tax returns, this disclosure sheds some light on how winning the presidency has touched his assets and should help inform the public about his various business dealings. Read on for more on Trump's financial disclosure and all the latest open government news from around the U.S. and across the globe.
Continue readingToday in OpenGov: Co-creating better FOIA software
After another tumultuous week in Washington, we’re glad it’s Friday. Please keep sending us your comments and tips at todayinopengov@sunlightfoundation.com!... View Article
Continue readingToday in OpenGov: Out of regular order
We're looking for for stories that will inform the public, inspire reforms and hold our federal government to account, with help from a generous grant by the Rogovy Foundation. That, plus news on the Russia investigation, Congress's march away from regular order, Vermont's new ethics commission, and more today in #OpenGov.
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