On Monday, the United States Senate quietly passed the OPEN Government Data Act as part of the 2018 National Defense... View Article
Continue readingNew bill would preserve public access to public data online
The Preserving Data in Government Act speaks to a matter of of heightened public interest in the spring 2017, as open government data has been removed from the Internet during the Trump administration. We hope Congress passes it.
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 readingBreaking down the latest Senate campaign finance reform package
Senate Democrats have introduced a package of campaign finance and lobbying reforms, labeled the We The People Act.
Continue readingCongress to consider making open data the default in federal government
This morning, we saw positive signs on the long road to baking open data into the way the federal government functions and discloses information to the people it serves.
Continue readingBoston: the tale of two open data policies
Let’s dig into Mayor Walsh's open data executive order, Councilor Wu's proposed open data legislation, and consider what is possible for the future of open data (and open data policy) in Boston.
Continue readingComplete Local Legislative Data
When we talk about providing a transparent and legible legislative process, the first step is identifying all the moving parts that contribute to the passing of law. In Washington, D.C., this means not just following the city council, but also following D.C.’s Advisory Neighborhood Commissions, or ANCs, the hyperlocal government entities that advise the city council on community issues. Although the District’s city government structure is uniquely granular, it serves as an excellent model for understanding what a complete legislative data framework should consist of.
Continue readingThe Legislation Will Not Be Televised
This map distinguishes five levels of legislative web and broadcasting comprehension on a sliding scale from “Best” (including all recommended elements: video formatting of floor proceedings and committee hearings, archived, and broadcasted via a variety of mediums) to “Worst” (missing several of these recommended elements). For more info (or to watch!) see the NCSL's original roundup here.
Open legislative data is integral to a functioning legible participatory democracy. The legislative data canopy covers everything from information about who represents you to the nuts and bolts of the legislative process to final letter of the law, with each element carrying its own series of challenges and considerations when it comes to public access. Timely and archived legislative process data (i.e. bills, amendments, committee meetings, votes, and contextual information, such as: research reports, legislative journals and lobbying information) are crucial to supporting citizen participation and informed voting. Video documentation of the legislative process represents the barebones of open and accountable legislative process data -- passive recordings of events as they happen for prosperity and public inclusion -- and yet this information is still not comprehensively available in most U.S. states.
Continue readingSenator Tester Champions Government Transparency; Reintroduces POIA
Today, Senator Jon Tester reintroduced The Public Online Information Act (POIA) a bill that would take already public government information... View Article
Continue readingSenator Tester Keeps Fighting the Good Fight for Transparency
Today, Senator Tester announced that once again he has introduced the Senate Campaign Disclosure Parity Act, (not yet online) a... View Article
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