Project Sunlight needs to see the light of Day
So Sunshine week. What a great idea. Open government, Open access, all these things lead to an informed public and more importantly government officials that are stewards to to the population rather than stewards to themselves.
It seems to me the collective ‘We” need to ensure that sunshine week is not treated like a hallmark holiday rather a way of life. I once wrote that every day should be Veterans day, Fathers day, Mothers day. Well you get the idea. Every week should be Sunshine week.
Hey D&C, after Sunshine week passes, Make sure you continue to follow up. Don’t wait until next year at this time. Oh, and what are the state Republicans afraid of except the light of day.
From the Democrat and Chronicle (emphasis mine)
Government must do a better job using the Web to inform.
(March 15, 2007) — Government has to catch up to the Internet generation. The vast capability of government Web sites to post public documents, create archives, generate interest in public issues and in general strengthen the free flow of information has been only partly tapped.The bureaucracy is still too much a pen-and-paper construct, whose bosses do not yet understand the extent to which modern America relies on the Web and fails to use adequately the resources of cyberspace. In part to fill this information gap, the Democrat and Chronicle has launched RocDocs at DemocratandChronicle.com, where databases on such topics as tax rates and police overtime may be found. But it’s essential that government open up its world using the Web.
There is some good news. A federal act creates a government search engine to track the vast array of grants, contracts and loans. Gov. Eliot Spitzer wants a greater Web presence when public agencies meet, and Attorney General Andrew Cuomo has created “Project Sunlight” for accessible databases on such things as campaign finances. But a recent study found that the federal bureaucracy is not using the Internet as the law requires and state Senate Republicans have already targeted “Project Sunlight” for elimination.
The politicians may not like it, but the Web and open government are made for each other. It’s a pairing to encourage.
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Good on the D&C Ed Board. Open gov’t is a no-brainer.