Lawmakers' sites faulted over lack of data

Publication: The Louisville Courier-Journal

James R. Carroll
April 8, 2007

Congressional Web sites, including those maintained by Kentucky and Indiana lawmakers, do not provide enough information to constituents.

That's the conclusion of the Sunlight Foundation, a Washington-based nonprofit group set up last year to improve the relationship between lawmakers and constituents.

The foundation asked 300 Internet writers and researchers to grade Senate and House sites. The foundation decided that 40 out of 100 points was passing.

The sites were graded on whether they provided access to basic information about bills lawmakers sponsor and their committees; access to required financial and travel disclosures; and other information that helps show what lawmakers do, such as daily schedules, office spending, franked mail costs and earmarks they have sought and received.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and Sen. Jim Bunning, Kentucky's Republican senators, each received 24 percent. Indiana's senators, Richard Lugar, a Republican, received a 32, while Democrat Evan Bayh got a 24.

Here's how Kentucky's representatives fared: Ed Whitfield, R-1st District, 8 percent; John Yarmuth, D-3rd, 16; Ron Lewis, R-2nd, 24; Geoff Davis, R-4th, 24; Hal Rogers, R-5th, 32; Ben Chandler, D-6th, 32. Indiana Rep. Baron Hill, D-9th, scored 24.

The nationwide average was 29.

No lawmakers provided information on personal finances, office expenses and reimbursed travel, and only a handful offered public schedules and lists of earmarks, the foundation said.

"Some members' Web sites are better than others, but it is clear that there is room for improvement on every single congressional Web site," foundation Executive Director Ellen Miller said in a statement.