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To access links, see Steven Clift's blog: http://dowire.org/notes/?p=352 Post: Congress 2.0 There is a new movement a foot. Citizens get the democracy they ask for. Citizens have not strongly asked for representative processes that connect effectively with the online world in which we live. That was, until now. Please read the important report from the strongly bi-partisan Open House Project and spread the word. (Press release below.) Here is the top ten reform list: 1. Legislation Database-publish legislative data in structured formats 2. Preserving Congressional Information -protect congressional information through archiving and distribution 3. Congressional Committees -recognize committees as a public resource by making committee information available online 4. Congressional Research Service-share non-partisan research beyond Congress 5. Member Web-Use Restrictions -permit members to take full advantage of internet resources 6. Citizen Journalism Access -grant House access to non-traditional journalists 7. The Office of the Clerk of the House - serve as a source for digital disclosure information 8. The Congressional Record - maintain the veracity of a historical document 9. Congressional Video - create open video access to House proceedings 10. Coordinating Web Standards -commit to technology reform as an administrative priority Here are some of the key links today: * The PDF version of the report: http://www.theopenhouseproject.com/report/openhouseproject_may8_07.pdf * The HTML version - see right column on home page: http://www.theopenhouseproject.com * Press Conference Video - very good - and Short Promotional Video * Google News buzz * Google blog search or Technorati buzz * Townhall.com - Top 10 Ways Pelosi Can Reform the House * The Hill Op-Ed - No light in basement by Tim La Pira - Why isn't this "public" accountability data available directly from Congress online? * OHP Google Group - Where you get involved * Thursday May 10 Panel Session - at Heritage Foundation * Earlier DoWire post Internationally representative institutions are also starting to wake up to the potential of "Parliament 2.0." Check out the UK Parliament for the Future project (commissioned by the UK Parliament itself) and the ICTParliament project of the United Nations. In the U.S. The caldroun e-legislative innovation resides in the states, see NALIT and check out some of the leading state legislatures online such as Minnesota. In terms of other countries visit Canada, Scotland, the Basque Country, New Zealand and others to connect with the vibe. Steven Clift DoWire.Org E-Democracy.Org The press release on the report: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 8, 2007 Contact: Gabriela Schneider 202-742-1520, ext. 236 WASHINGTON, DC - In a presentation to congressional staff and Representatives, members of the Open House Project delivered today recommendations for a series of technological reforms that would increase transparency and public access to the work and members of the U.S. House of Representatives. "Americans are communicating with each other in a ?Web 2.0? dynamic environment, but Congress is restricted in its online activities by outdated rules implemented when the Web first launched over 10 years ago,? said Ellen Miller, executive director of the Sunlight Foundation. "The Open House Project convened a diverse, bipartisan group of experts to help open the proceedings of the House of Representatives so it can be the transparent, open-source kind of legislature appropriate for the 21st century.? A project of the Sunlight Foundation - the Open House Project - is a collaborative effort by government and legislative information experts, congressional staff, non-profit organizers and bloggers to study how the House of Representatives currently integrates the Internet into its operations, and to suggest attainable reforms to promote public access to its work and members. The group, which includes renowned technologist Clay Shirky, Bush/Cheney 2004 eCampaign Director Mike Turk, Govtrack creator Joshua Tauberer, and leading blogger Markos Moulitsas-Zuniga of the Daily Kos, devised its transparency recommendations online in thoroughly collaborative way from choosing topics through conversations on a list-serve, to researching House institutions and reforms through blog posts and a wiki, to authoring sections of the report with shared documents online. "We look forward to working with members and their staff to get their feedback on best ways to implement these reforms, which will help citizens be more confident that their Representatives are working in their interest,? said John Wonderlich, program director of the Sunlight Foundation. "This is truly exciting because our simple and straightforward recommendations will discourage corruption and increase accountability, fostering a deeper connection between civically empowered constituents and their legislators.? The Open House Projects reforms include: * Legislation Database-publish legislative data in structured formats * Preserving Congressional Information-protect congressional information through archiving and distribution * Congressional Committees-recognize committees as a public resource by making committee information available online * Congressional Research Service-share non-partisan research beyond Congress * Member Web-Use Restrictions-permit members to take full advantage of internet resources * Citizen Journalism Access-grant House access to non-traditional journalists * The Office of the Clerk of the House-serve as a source for digital disclosure information * The Congressional Record-maintain the veracity of a historical document * Congressional Video-create open video access to House proceedings * Coordinating Web Standards-commit to technology reform as an administrative priority "Our recommendations make up the most significant reforms since the mid-1990s, when then-Speaker Newt Gingrich oversaw the creation of the online legislative database called THOMAS and paved the way for members Web sites,? said Rob Bluey, director of the Center for Media & Public Policy at The Heritage Foundation. "Congress now has a unique opportunity to bridge the partisan divide on an issue that should win broad support among Democrats and Republicans.? The Open House Projects report is available at www.theopenhouseproject.c.... Reader feedback is encouraged. A partial list of participants is as follows: Abou Ben Adhem Abrams Stern, Metavid Andrew Rasiej, Sunlight Foundation Ari Schwartz, Center for Democracy and Technology Britt Blaser, Open Resource Group Chris Kinnan, FreedomWorks Clay Shirky, NYUs ITP Conor Kenny, Congresspedia Dan Manatt, PoliticsTV Dan Newman, MAPLight.org Daniel Cornwall, Free Government Information David All, David All Group David Moore, Open Congress Ellen Miller, Sunlight Foundation Gary Bass, OMB Watch Ian Koski, On Deck Communication Studio LLC James R. Jacobs, Free Government Information Jed Sundwall, Eventful, Inc. Jim Jacobs, Free Government Information Jock Friedly, Legistorm John Wonderlich, Sunlight Foundation Joshua Tauberer, GovTrack.us Leslie Harris, Center for Democracy and Technology Liza Sabater, Culture Kitchen Marc Laitin, Wired for Change Mark Tapscott, Washington Examiner Markos Moulitsas-Zuniga, Daily Kos Matt Stoller, MyDD Micah Sifry, Sunlight Foundation Mike Turk, NCTA Nancy Scola, blogger Nancy Watzman, Public Campaign NZ Bear, Porkbusters and Truth Laid Bear Paul Blumenthal, Sunlight Foundation Perla Ni, VoterWatch Phil Windley, Robert B. Bluey, The Heritage Foundation Ryan Alexander, Taxpayers for Common Sense Scott Chacon, Open Source Democracy Project Sean Moulton, OMB Watch Shannon Ferguson, OMB Watch Sheila Krumholz, OpenSecrets.org Shinjoung Yeo, Free Government Information Silona Bonewald, League of Technical Voters Steve Urquhart, Politicopia Steven Clift, E-Democracy.Org and Democracies Online Vsevolod Ilyushchenko Affiliations are for identification purposes only. Founded in January, 2006, the mission of the Sunlight Foundation is to strengthen the relationship between lawmakers and their constituents. Sunlight puts information and tools in citizens hands so they can learn more about what Congress and their elected representatives are doing. Its ultimate goal is full transparency by Congress, its Members and staff will help reduce corruption, ensure greater accountability, and foster public trust in this vital institution of democracy. Since its founding, the Sunlight Foundation has issued nearly $2 million to groups to digitize existing information about Congress and those that use Internet technology to further Sunlights goals. Additionally, the Sunlight Foundation has fostered its own projects such as Congresspedia, OpenCongress.org and Congress Family Business. ### *** Democracies Online Newswire - http://DoWire.Org *** To comment/for links: http://dowire.org/notes/?p=352 To network: http://groups.dowire.org Submit posts: http://dowire.org/submit Member profile for Steven Clift: http://groups.dowire.org/main/contacts/stevenclift ----------------------------------------- Group home for Newswire - Steven Clift's blog posts by e-mail: http://groups.dowire.org/main/groups/newswire Replies go to members of Newswire - Steven Clift's blog posts by e-mail with all posts on this topic here: http://groups.dowire.org/r/topic/ For digest version or to leave Newswire - Steven Clift's blog posts by e-mail, email [email protected] with "digest on" or "unsubscribe" in the *subject*. Newswire - Steven Clift's blog posts by e-mail is hosted by Democracies Online - http://dowire.org.
