Chemical security bills lack provisions for transparency

Two chemical facility security bills introduced in the U.S. senate are designed to reduce the consequences of accident or attack on chemical plants and drinking water facilities but fail to provide for accountability and transparency to ensure safety says OMB Watch. -db
Chemical security bills lack provisions for transparency
OMB Watch
Commentary
July 27, 2010
Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) has [...]

Supreme Court rules names on anti-gay petition can be made public

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled for public disclosure of names on a petition to overturn a gay rights law in Washington state. Those for disclosure say it is an important victory for the public’s right to check signatures and to discover who are supporting particular political stances. -db

SeattlePI.com
June 24, 2010
By Chris Grygiel
The Supreme Court ruled [...]

Watchdog group: Lack of transparency damages ability to deal with oil spill disaster

OMB Watch, a nonprofit devoted to promoting government transparency and accountability, says that lack of information from the government and BP has hampered the public’s ability to deal with the spill. In particular, BP has not revealed the chemical makeup of the dispersants so that scientists and others can determine their possible long term consequences. -db

OMB [...]

UN sees freedom of information as crucial in promoting justice, development and democracy

In marking World Press Freedom Day, top United Nations officials condemned the killing of journalists, 77 last year, and called for countries to protect those working in the media. -db

UN News Centre
May 3, 2010

Marking the annual World Press Freedom Day, top United Nations officials have called for promoting the universal right to publicly-held information as [...]

Staffing at federal agencies inadequate to deliver on Recovery Act funding

OMB Watch says a report from the groups charged with Recover Act oversight reveals that federal agencies are drastically overworked and under pressure to spend stimulus funds rapidly. The report does not touch on how the agencies are doing to make their work transparent, but OMB Watch says the problem of understaffing should be addressed [...]

California State Assembly Speaker bans texting in session

The new California Assembly Speaker has banned text messaging on the assembly floor prompting skepticism from First Amendment advocates that the ban is enforceable or efficacious. -db

CivSource
Commentary
March 9, 2010
By Bailey McCann

Last week, when John A. Perez became California’s new Assembly Speaker a point in his opening speech caught our eye — a new rule limiting [...]

White House tech officer challenges Tea Party activists to join transparency movement

The White House technology officer has challenged Republicans and Tea Party activists to a competition to establish greater transparency in government. -db

The Hill
February 22, 2010
By Kim Hart
In an ironic twist, the White House is inviting the Tea Party movement to challenge it on government transparency.
White House Chief Technology Officer Andrew McLaughlin said Republicans and [...]

Internet raises stakes in cases pitting public disclosure against right to privacy

In Doe v. Reed, the U.S. Supreme Court will weigh the right to privacy under the First Amendment’s protection of freedom of speech and association against the need for open government and transparency in public elections. -DB
First Amendment Center
Commentary
January 19, 2010
By Tony Mauro
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Supreme Court has agreed to review a case [...]

Accountability and openness in government under attack in Texas

An editorial in the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal defends the Texas Open Meetings Act currently under attack in Texas courts and the legislature -DB
Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
Editorial
December 11, 2009
Foes of open government are trying to turn back the clock on transparency and accountability in a two-prong attack on the Texas Open Meetings Act. They should be thwarted at every [...]

Open government group launches new database to improve access to stimulus data

OMB Watch has released a beta version of a new data base on FedSpending.org to improve access and searchability of stimulus data. -DB
OMB Watch
Press Release
December 3, 2009
WASHINGTON, D.C. – OMB Watch released a beta version of a new database on FedSpending.org that gives the public improved access to and searchability of Recovery Act recipient report [...]

Expenditures of Congressional representatives go online

For the first time, the public will be able to examine online House of Representatives records to see what their Congress men and women have been spending with the potential of greatly increasing trust and accountability. -DB

Sunlight Foundation Blog
November 30, 2009
By John Wonderlich
The U.S. House is expected today to release the quarterly Statement of Disbursements online [...]

Pentagon admits ‘arrogance’, promises more openness

The Joint Chief of Staff Chairman has called for the Pentagon to exhibit greater openness, but military officials say they plan no changes in policy based on the chairman’s comments. -DB
Stars and Stripes
Analysis
September 3, 2009
By Leo Shane III
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Media critics for years have blasted the military for its heavy-handed efforts to control the flow [...]

Report finds states lag in providing tracking of stimulus spending

A Washington research firm representing 35 public interest groups has found deficiencies in the Web performances of states as they track stimulus spending. Only four states were found to provide employment data when job creation is one of the chief goals of the recovery plan. -DB
NextGov
July 29, 2009
By Aliya Sternstein
A study released on Wednesday criticizes most [...]