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Transparency Developments in the U.S. Congress

Transparency Developments in the U.S. Congress. Daniel Schuman, Policy Counsel @ danielschuman. About Us. www.sunlightfoundation.com. Daniel Schuman. Background on Congress. Largest staff of any legislature – but young and shrinking

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Transparency Developments in the U.S. Congress

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  1. Transparency Developments in the U.S. Congress Daniel Schuman, Policy Counsel @danielschuman

  2. About Us www.sunlightfoundation.com Daniel Schuman

  3. Background on Congress • Largest staff of any legislature – but young and shrinking • Major budget cuts – 11% reduction in House over last 2 years • No central control of information dissemination • Divided implementation of information services Daniel Schuman

  4. Overview of Progress • House of Representatives has led • Senate has made minimal progress • Congress (esp. support agencies) are slow if not recalcitrant • A few legislative victories Daniel Schuman

  5. House of Representatives Daniel Schuman

  6. House of Representatives • Current Leadership (2011-2012) • Updating House Rules • 72-hour rule • Webcasting hearings • Bulk access • Leadership statement • Docs.house.gov portal • 3 Conferences • Madison project (Issa) Daniel Schuman

  7. House of Representatives • Prior Leadership (2007-2010) • Creation of “Office of Congressional Ethics” • Publication of Statement of Disbursements • Twitter / YouTube • Earlier reforms w/r/t 72-hour rule • Earmark transparency • Open House Project??? Daniel Schuman

  8. Senate Daniel Schuman

  9. Senate • Statement of Disbursements (much later) • Votes in XML • Improving committee / member websites • Twitter/ YouTube • #FAIL: Electronic Filing Daniel Schuman

  10. Congress’s Legislative Activities Daniel Schuman

  11. Congress’s Legislative Activities • Enacted • Improved lobbying reporting (plus database) • Financial transaction reporting (STOCK Act) • Recovery.gov // Dodd-Frank // TARP • E-Gov Fund (Data.gov, etc.) • Introduced • DATA Act (spending transparency) • Public Online Information Act (standards + online pub) • DISCLOSE Act (campaign finance) • Congressional Research Reports // ACMRA Daniel Schuman

  12. Congress’s Non-Legislative Activities Bulk Access to Legislative Information Examples: THOMAS // CRS Reports // Constitution Annotated // Statutes at Large Daniel Schuman

  13. What’s Next? • Inside the institution • Bulk access (still!) • Official electronic copies of docs + online access • Evaluating progress and consolidating gains • Lawmaking • Lobbying disclosure legislation • Campaign finance disclosure legislation Daniel Schuman

  14. Thanks @danielschuman Daniel Schuman

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