In the world's second most expensive election process, India faces serious issues as its opaque political finance regime leaves over 800 million voters in the dark about who is funding the campaigns.
Continue readingDATA Act clears Congress
The House unanimously passed the DATA Act about 15 minutes ago. Following Senate passage earlier this month, the DATA Act only needs President Obama's signature to become law.
Continue readingAsking for top-level changes to help boost local financial transparency
There's a clear path forward for opening up data about local finances, and we've written a letter in support of taking steps in that direction.
Continue readingBeyond business — the impacts of open data
Our new “Impacts of Open Data” resource provides a concrete overview of the kinds of non-business benefits enjoyed by localities with open data.
Continue readingAmerican Oligarchy: How the preferences of elites shape policy outcomes
Time and again we find that corporate interests are far more involved in the political process than ordinary citizens. Now, a recent paper provides empirical evidence finding this imbalance is actually a systemic feature of modern American democracy.
Continue readingUpcoming EU elections bringing undue influence into the spotlight again
A broader coalition of European civil society organizations launched a campaign to make some noise around the influence of big businesses on EU institutions.
Continue readingSunlight and allies talk FARA reform with the Department of Justice
For all of the Foreign Agents Registration Act’s strengths, it can be a bummer. But Sunlight has some recommendations that can change all that.
Continue readingWhy is our tax code so lame? Or, what we can learn from Caterpillar and Dave Camp
There's a strong relationship between how much companies lobby and how little they pay in taxes — and that's not likely to change anytime soon.
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 readingU.S. image abroad harmed by McCutcheon decision
The McCutcheon decision should be an “occasion for outrage.” Unfortunately in the U.S., voters seem to have become accustomed to the very things that disgust them.
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