Sunlight Foundation’s new tool rivals K Street lobbyists

Publication: Austin American-Statesman

Rebecca Carr
April 4, 2008

The Sunlight Foundation is proposing a bill that would shine the light on the secretive ways that Congress and the executive branch operate.

But rather than hire an army of lobbyists to push their bill on Capitol Hill, the non-profit group is taking its bill straight to the public.

Bypassing the lobbyist corridor known as Gucci Gulch?

That's right, says Ellen S. Miller, the head of the non-profit group that uses new technologies to make the federal government more transparent and accessible to the public.

"We believe strongly there is wisdom in the crowd," Miller said.

The foundation has posted the entire content of the Transparency in Government Act of 2008 on its website with an invitation to the public to add their comments and suggestions to improve the bill.

The goal, says Miller, is to ensure that the bill covers every element that it should.

The bill seeks to require Congress and the executive branch to be more transparent by making information, including sensitive financial data, available on-line so that people living in Anchorage have as much access to the way the government works as people living in the nation's capital city.

"We are believers in this: we don't hold all the knowledge and expertise, why not open up the lobbying process?" Miller said.

"This is front porch politics," Miller said. It's a way to engage the public and push for real, meaningful change, she said.

Look out K Street, here comes the public.

And most of them aren't wearing Gucci.