Based on troubling statistics, Congress has requested the General Accountability Office conduct a comprehensive review of the federal government's compliance with the Freedom of Information Act.
Continue readingA lesson learned from the beleaguered NTIS
The National Technology Information Service once endeavored to provide a centralized and organized location for government documents. Now, its potential demise is a call for more effective information disclosure among government agencies.
Continue readingRegistered lobbyists are mostly compliant – but what about the unregistered ones?
A new report has been released reviewing how well lobbyists follow disclosure rules. According to the report, registered lobbyists aren't that bad. What it misses completely, of course, is all of the non-lobbyist lobbyists out there.
Continue readingContinued cuts to legislative branch budget hurt transparency, accountability, and capacity.
This morning, the House Appropriations Committee's Legislative Branch Subcommittee marked up its FY 2014 funding bill, agreeing to a plan that would cut funding for Congress and legislative support agencies well below FY 2013 levels, and even beneath sequestration levels for most offices. Committee leadership claimed that cuts were necessary to "lead by example" and help get the government's "fiscal house in order," but, in reality, the cuts will likely limit accountability, access to information, and the ability of Congress and the legislative support agencies to do their jobs efficiently and effectively. The shrinking budgets could also make it more difficult for Congress to implement a number of important transparency initiatives. Specifically, the plan would continue several years of cuts to House operations and the Government Accountability Office that have diminished the capacity of both bodies.
Continue readingGAO Finds Fault With Lobbyist Reports
by Cassandra LaRussa Only 63% of information disclosed on lobbying reports were “properly reported and supported,” according to a new... View Article
Continue readingDaily Disclosures
A roundup of what we’re noticing in the Reporting Group as we dig into government data and disclosures: 5 day... View Article
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