Tag: Legislation

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Accountability and Oversight, Blog posts, Reports & Analysis

Open CRS Bill Introduced in House and Senate — Coalition Expresses Its Support

By DanielSchuman March 3, 2016 9 min read

Today Senators John McCain (R-AZ) and Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Representatives Leonard Lance (R-NJ) and Mike Quigley (D-IL) introduced in the House and Senate legislation directing the online publication of Congressional Research Service reports that are available for general congressional access. A coalition of 40 civil society and grassroots organizations, libraries, trade associations, think tanks, and businesses from across […]

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Ethics and Influence, Blog posts, Reports & Analysis

Presidential Libraries: The Billion Dollar Cash Grab

By DanielSchuman September 15, 2015 3 min read

President Obama intends to raise at least $800 million from private donors — with hopes for $1 billion — for his presidential library, which will include a library, museum, office space, activity space, and probably a gift shop, too. It will be twice as costly as the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum, with fundraising efforts almost entirely untouched by […]

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Modernization, Advocacy, Blog posts, Reports & Analysis

It’s Time for Congress to Publish CRS Reports

By DanielSchuman June 17, 2015 2 min read

This morning the New York Times editorialized in favor of public access to Congressional Research Service reports. “Given the extreme partisanship and gridlock in Congress, it’s more crucial than ever to have an informed electorate. Putting these reports in the public domain is an important step toward that goal.” Over the years our coalition has submitted testimony in favor of public access […]

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Accountability and Oversight, Blog posts, Reports & Analysis

Sunsetting the Politics of Terror

By DanielSchuman June 8, 2015 3 min read

Last sunday night’s sunset of the 9/11-era USA PATRIOT Act is an example of the Congress working properly and a repudiation of the politics of terror. After the 9/11 attacks, national security hardliners stampeded the Congress into enacting broad surveillance legislation without much opportunity for our elected officials to think through the legislation or to […]

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Accountability and Oversight, Blog posts, Reports & Analysis

A Checklist for Drafters of Transparency Legislation

By DanielSchuman February 16, 2015 17 min read

Drafting legislation may be more art than science, but even the most avan garde artist considers the size of the canvas and the artwork’s composition just as drafters must think through the purposes of the legislation and how circumstances may change over time. What does it take to create robust, effective transparency legislation? Here are […]

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Blog posts, Reports & Analysis

The Decline of Private Laws

By DanielSchuman December 1, 2010 4 min read

This article was written by Melanie Buck and published by the Sunlight Foundation on December 1, 2010. Because of a quirk in the law, Adela Bailor was ineligible for compensation for the brutal attack she suffered at the hands of a felon in federal custody. A court concluded that it had no power to hold the government responsible for […]

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