In a huge step forward for transparency in the city of Jackson, Miss., Mayor Tony Yarber has today signed an executive order that will create an open data policy and establish a powerful commitment to government openness.
Continue readingSunshine and shadows: Statehouses tackle open records laws in 2015
The 2016 state legislative sessions have already witnessed a host of important actions, with legislators across the country considering measures to increase and decrease governmental transparency.
Continue readingIn search of not-so-lost time: What transparency can tell us about history, race relations and Ferguson
In 1958, the fact that Mississippi teen Amos Brown opened a bank account on behalf of the NAACP was deemed important enough to inform the mayor, the chief of police and the Mississippi Sovereignty Commission.
Continue readingPrimary post-mortem: Intraparty squabbles still a conservative game
The dust has settled on primary season. What we've learned? The fight for the soul of the GOP is as alive as ever.
Continue readingOutside political spending = economic boom in D.C.
The politicians may love to hate Washington but guess where most of the money being spent on their behalf is going.
Continue readingCampaign Intelligence: Mississippi race hits $17 million
The first half of primary season 2014 draws to a close with a blast of big money and a scare for two congressional veterans.
Continue readingCampaign intelligence: Money flows to Republican primaries
Eight states hold primary elections Tuesday, see which groups are spending big to influence your vote in this week's campaign intelligence.
Continue readingStates Lead on E-Filing, Will the Senate Catch Up?
It seems our Senators have a thing or two learn from their home states when it comes to campaign finance reporting: 31 states currently require mandatory electronic reporting ("e-filing") of their elected representative's campaign finance records -- a leap above our Senate, which has failed to pass no-brainer e-filing legislation for over a decade. Sunlight conducted a review of the current state of similar filings in the states (see chart below), and the results are pretty surprising -- in a great way. State governments across the country -- 92% of them, in fact -- require at least optional, if not mandatory electronic filing for both houses of their bicameral legislatures.
Continue readingSunlight Weekly Roundup: “Ignorance of the law is not a defense”
After footage of a tense city council meeting in West Branch, Iowa was posted on YouTube, City Administrator Matt Mucker... View Article
Continue reading24 Days Of Local Sunlight – Day 19, 20 and 21
There are only a few days left and so many people to thank. In Arizona, Espresso Pundit is one of my favorite... View Article
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