Inspired by Kansas City’s experiment with a Facebook "chatbot" for open data, Chattanooga has now made their own. This is a great example of how open cities can learn from one another, adopting and adapting innovative tools for their own communities.
Continue readingCapitol cash: How state politicians fundraise and campaign on the clock
From venues like Johnny’s Half Shell in D.C., maritime museums or Magic Johnson’s house, lawmakers follow the money wherever it takes them. Sometimes, it’s even in their own backyard.
Continue readingTennessee’s proposed public records fee is a barrier to transparency
Tennessee’s move toward charging for inspection of records serves as an opengov deterrent and limits the public’s right to know
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 readingCampaign intelligence: Anti-establishment groups’ final push
As primary season begins to wind down, outside conservative groups are still pouring money into TV ads and mailers, trying to score a few upsets against longtime incumbents.
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: “So much for government transparency”
The Arizona Public Interest Research Group awarded Arizona an A-minus on how it helps taxpayers find information online pertaining to government spending.... View Article
Continue readingSunlight Weekly Roundup: Public frustrations regarding lack of transparency
The Jordan-Elbridge County school district held a training session for the public on the county’s open meetings law. State Supreme... View Article
Continue readingSunlight Weekly Round-up: Tennessee keeps ethics violations secret
A new trend by those in power to keep public information secret from those who are not, is slowly spreading.... View Article
Continue readingStunning Disregard for Basic Disclosure in Tennessee
We’re reading about stunning disrespect for the role disclosure plays in democracy, coming from Tennessee’s Governor, who has apparently just... View Article
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