Paul
highlights the launch of YouTube channels devoted to videos created by congressional lawmakers. He notes the small changes between the channels and the rest of YouTube, changes needed to allow the lawmakers to comply with congressional rules.
Clay announces Sunlight Labs’ Apps for America contest, which will award $25,000 in prizes to developers who can use data from Sunlight and its partners to create apps that make Congress more accountable, interactive and transparent
Ellen shares a useful item, government twitter directory, which, while a work in progress, offers a way to keep tabs on officials using the technology.
Ellen spotlights Revolving Door, the new report from the Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Government (CREW) which examines the activities of 24 members of President Bush’s cabinet.
Paul previews the early bills introduced by the 111th Congress that relate to transparency and government ethics, including a bill that would require disclosure and payment of noncommercial air travel in the Senate.
Bill examines Sen. Carl Levin’s effort to obtain – but not necessarily release – contracts that Citigroup and other banks signed to receive funds under TARP.
Paul updates the saga about whether Sen. Carl Levin will release bailout contracts obtained from the Treasury Department.
Ellen shares some amazing web stats, which include two huge numbers: 150,000,000, the number of active users on Facebook, and 70,000,000, the number of videos on YouTube.
Bill credits Sen. Carl Levin for getting copies of the copies of contracts that companies participating in the Troubled Asset Relief Program signed. Now, Bill is just waiting to see if those copies are made public.
Ellen shares what Jimmy Wales,Wikipedia founder and Sunlight advisor, and Andrea Weckerle, attorney, communications consultant and blogger, suggest needs to be done to make government more tech-friendly
Ellen thanks Josh Tauberer for creating Planet Open, which aggregates blogs from the open government technology community and public sector bloggers. She invites those who aren’t listed to sign up.
Ellen invites the public to check out Sunlight grantee Little Sis, which calls itself “an involuntary Facebook of powerful Americans.”
Paul tracks an amendment that would require the Treasury Department to post online reports about how the funds from TARP are being spent.
Paul continues to wait for the Senate to pass legislation requiring reports filed with the Secretary of the Senate to be filed electronically.
As everyone awaits the announcement of the first Chief Technology Officer, Paul looks back at past efforts to use Web 2.0 tools by executive agencies.
Paul notes the failure of a Senate proposal requiring public disclosures mandated in the 2nd round of TARP be posted online. Sen. Christopher Dodd decided he would not be adding the amendment, which would have mirrored a similar one in the House version.
John shares two creative online projects for analyzing the stimulus package. Similar to publicmarkup.org, the two projects offer the public a chance to explore the bill and comment.
Ellen considers whether the Obama Administration might need a Government Transparency Officer in addition to the proposed Chief Technology Officer.
John explains that implementing President Obama’s Executive Orders on transparency and FOIA will be difficult and that the process deserves close watching.
Ellen praises President Obama’s quick actions on transparency and FOIA, but she adds that more must be done, citing the delay in the online posting of the two Executive Orders as symbolic of the long road still ahead.
Ellen posts President Obama’s Memorandum on FOIA, which includes Justice Louis Brandeis' quote – and inspiration for the name Sunlight Foundation – that “sunlight is said to be the best of disinfectants.”
Ellen posts President Obama’s Memorandum on Transparency, which was slow in being posted to WhiteHouse.gov.
After the launch of the new WhiteHouse.gov, Paul wonders what happened to Bush’s White House web site and offers some suggestions that could improve the utility of the current site.
John explains why William Lynn can still become Deputy Secretary of State despite the new Executive Order on ethics and lobbying issued by President Obama.
Paul discusses comments by Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, in which the congressman said the economic stimulus bill would be posted online for four days.
Paul mentions an FBI and IRS raid of Kuchera Industries and Kuchera Defense Systems, defense firms whose owner is closely linked to Rep. John Murtha. Paul adds that employees of the firms have donated heavily to Murtha, and in 2008, Murtha earmarked $8.2 million to the Kuchera firms.
Ellen posts the letter sent to Inspector General Barofsky by Sunlight Foundation and other organizations. The letter recommends adding Whistleblower protection
initiatives to enhance accountability for the Emergency Economic Stabilization
Act of 2008.
Ellen passes along some suggestions for how the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office could implement President Obama’s memorandum on government transparency.
Following New York Governor David Paterson’s appointment of
Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand, Paul examines her transparency record and notes that while she has made an effort to post earmarks, earmark requests, and personal financial disclosures to her official web site, she should aim to make her public schedule more transparent.
James notes an article about computational journalism in Miller-McCune. The article offers good examples of how online tools can aid, rather than undermine, investigative journalism.
John posts a video of Reps. Steny Hoyer and Eric Cantor discussing congressional transparency.
Joshua shares some issues that have been raised concerning Congress’s use of YouTube. While most are glad Congress has embraced the new technology, most agree that the effort needs improving.
Nancy offers an overview of the inauguration party scene that begin well advance of Inauguration Day. And she examines the way these parties are carefully planned to stay compliant with ethics laws.
Nancy passes along analysis from Public Citizen, analysis which shows some of the official donors to Obama’s inauguration are familiar faces from the financial bailout.
Nancy notes an Associated Press report in which party-throwers plan these lavish events: access to lawmakers and their staff.
Nancy posts an invitation to Al Franken’s inauguration brunch aimed at raising funds to pay off his recount expenses.
Bill explains the reasons behind congressional leadership’s attempts to “hide the pork” in the stimulus package through certain formulas.