Significant reform: Congress taking steps to improve transparency

Both the U.S. House and Senate have made significant reforms contributing to transparency according to a commentary in OMB Watch. The Senate will end the practice of “secret holds,”  that allowed a senator to anonymously put a stop on a bill. The House will post bills online three days prior to a vote and disclose [...]

Washington Post challenges Congressional barriers to disclosure of sales of guns used in crimes

The Washington Post is publishing a series of stories that breaches the limits established by Congress on information of sales of guns used to commit crimes. -db Secrecy News Commentary October 25, 2010 By Steven Aftergood The Washington Post is publishing a rather spectacular series of stories this week tracing the flow of guns through [...]

U.S. judges agree to pilot study of cameras in court

The nation’s federal judges agreed yesterday to a pilot project that could televise some civil trials — 16 years after the judges ended a similar experiment. September 15, 2010 By The Associated Press WASHINGTON —Appeals court judge David Sentelle told reporters that many of the details remained to be worked out, but that cameras could [...]

Obama favors disclosing contacts between lobbyists with administration or Congress

The Electronic Frontier Foundation hails President Barack Obama’s statement in the State of the Union address about disclosing lobbyist contacts. The Obama administration has been fighting FOIA requests seeking identities of lobbyists working the Department of Justice and Director of National Intelligence. -db Electronic Frontier Foundation Commentary January 28, 2010 By Kurt Opsahl In yesterday’s State [...]

Twitter emerges as vehicle for publicizing final health care bill

Congressional leaders announced that the final health care bill will go online on Twitter 72 hours prior to its consideration on the floor, a move that firmly establishes the social media as a significant player in providing public assess to the nation’s business. -DB Sunlight Foundation Opinion January 15, 2010 By Paul Blumenthal So, Nancy [...]