THREE ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS FOR REFORM LAID OUT BY THE SUNLIGHT FOUNDATION

Endorsed by The New York Times

December 14, 2006

Contact: Gabriela Schneider 202-742-1520 ext 236

WASHINGTON, DC – The Sunlight Foundation, a nonprofit focused on transparency in Congress, today set out three elements that must be included in any Congressional upcoming “reform” proposals -- an agenda endorsed by this morning's New York Times (see below). “Speaker Pelosi has wisely decided that ‘draining the swamp’ will be a top priority in the first one hundred hours of the new Congress. Reforms that provide more openness for Congress would be a great way to beginning establishing more trust between lawmakers to their constituents. There are three elements that Congress must consider as it moves to clean itself up,” said Ellen Miller, Executive Director of the Sunlight Foundation. The three elements, backed by Sunlight, are as follows: 1) 21st century public filing -- online! All currently required public filings by lawmakers should be filed online, in a searchable and downloadable format within 24 hours of the time they are filed in paper form. Sunlight also supports more frequent filing. 2) No more secret, offline legislation Bills should be posted online at least 72 hours before a vote, so that Members of Congress and the public have time to read the bills before they vote on them. If a Member of Congress sponsors an earmark or an amendment, he should put his name on it, so everyone knows where legislation is coming from. 3) Real lobbyist disclosure Paid lobbyists should have to report who they meet with, and what they discuss, and report any connections they have with Members of Congress. All lobbyists’ reports should be filed on the Internet, within 24 hours of any meeting. “There is nothing radical about these proposals,” said Miller. “In the era of new technology, these are all feasible and they are simply common sense first steps towards making our Congress more open, accountable, and modern. To truly repair the relationship between elected officials and their constituents, which has steadily eroded over the past couple of decades, Congress should enact these proposals.” 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. Our ultimate goal of 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. ### The New York Times December 14, 2006 Editorial Congress and the Benefits of Sunshine At first, the innovation sounds simple enough: Representative-elect Kirsten Gillibrand has decided to post details of her work calendar on the Internet at the end of each day so constituents can tell what she is actually doing for their money. In fact, it is a quiet touch of revolution. The level of transparency pledged by Ms. Gillibrand, Democrat of New York — down to naming lobbyists and fund-raisers among those she might meet with — is simply unheard of in Congress. The secrecy that cloaks the dealings of lawmakers and deep-pocket special interests underpinned the corruption issue that Ms. Gillibrand invoked as voters turned Republicans from majority rule last month. For all the worthy proposals for ethics reform being hashed out by the incoming Congress, a heavy dose of Internet transparency should not be overlooked in the effort to repair lawmakers’ tattered credibility. The technology is already there, along with the public’s appetite for more disclosure about the byways of power in Congress. The Web is increasingly wielded by both campaign donors and bloggers clicking and tapping as wannabe muckrakers. Politicians would be wise to catch up. Local citizens were enlisted to track pork-barrel abuses in the last campaign by a new watchdog organization, the Sunlight Foundation, which enlisted Ms. Gillibrand’s disclosure pledge. It aims to have voters use the Internet as an engine of political information. Much more than disclosure is needed to cure the Capitol’s ills — particularly some sort of independent agency to prod Congress to fully investigate corruption allegations. But prompt, searchable postings of basic data — from lobbyists’ itineraries and expenses to incumbents’ donor ties and legislative labors — should be part of any corruption cure. In the information age, this amounts to a modest proposal for a Congress truly intent on reform.