On Wednesday afternoon, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R.736, the Access to Congressionally Mandated Reports Act (ACMRA). ACMRA would... View Article
Continue readingCongress should ensure the investigation of the Special Counsel is protected
Today, the Sunlight Foundation endorsed the Special Counsel Transparency Act to preserve evidence and recommendations that result from Special Counsel Robert S. Mueller’s investigation, should President Donald J. Trump fire him.
Continue readingFacebook’s commitments to transparency before Congress are welcome, but insufficient
Unless Congress takes more time to understand and then to craft careful remedies, the emerging challenges for open government that Facebook is implicated in – from automated activity to algorithmic transparency to public speech on private platforms to data ethics and protections to anti-trust concerns to artificial intelligence – will most likely be obscured by more sound and fury emanating from Washington that ultimately signifies nothing.
Continue readingRollCall analysis finds Members of Congress aren’t transparent about their own taxes
In the most comprehensive reporting we've seen on the availability of Congressional returns we've seen this year, Stephanie Akin and Sean McMinn looked for what was publicly disclosed and then systematically contacted every Member to see what was available. The result is a database that will inform the public about his or her Member of Congress' personal commitment to tax transparency.
Continue readingCongress should honor its commitments to transparency
Secret laws have no place in a democracy. Laws enacted in secret, outside of public view or access, are similarly anathema to a transparent and accountable legislative process that honors the consent of the governed.
Continue readingWhat we told Congress about oversight, ethics and open government
This week, the Sunlight Foundation joined a roundtable of nonprofits, Members of the U.S. House of Representatives, and their staff... View Article
Continue readingHow federal agencies and Congress pass laws to deny individual FOIA requests
A judge can force a federal agency to comply with a Freedom of Information Act request. But, while the FOIA is pending, the agency can ask Congress to pass a law allowing it to withhold the requested information.
Continue readingCongress makes the role of U.S. chief technology officer permanent
On January 6, 2017, President Barack Obama quietly signed a bill that codified the role of the chief technology officer... View Article
Continue readingWhen the public speaks, Congress still listens
Today was a good day for open government in the United States. This morning, the U.S. House of Representatives was... View Article
Continue readingThe U.S. intelligence community needs stronger congressional oversight
Today, Sunlight joined a broad coalition of 33 organizations calling on the U.S. House of Representatives to strengthen congressional oversight of the U.S. intelligence community.
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