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Tag: transparency
Help Us Strengthen Open Government
Since the United States joined the Open Government Partnership in 2011, U.S. agencies have been working alongside civil society to develop and implement commitments to increase transparency, improve participation, and curb corruption. From opening up Federal spending data to make it easier to see how taxpayer dollars are spent, to the We the People online petition site where the public can propose U.S. policy changes, to strengthening efforts to deny safe haven in the U.S. to corrupt individuals, our efforts to advance open government are making an impact.
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Vermont needs an ethics law for public officials
Vermonters deserve good government —and that includes an open and transparent government.
We are proud of our state and our collective ability to overcome any difficult issue we may encounter. As Vermonters, when we see a problem, we know we can fix it through hard work and a dose of common sense. We expect the same of our government.
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Read More… from Vermont needs an ethics law for public officials
Transparency Watch: DC January 12 Transit Accident — NTSB Schedules Hearings June 23-24 on Metro Safety
What should the public know when an accident calls into question the safety of a rail system that moves 700,000 of the region’s residents every day? Does reliable information really need to take years?
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Work Pledges Transparency in DoD Laboratory Review
WASHINGTON, June 3, 2015 – Deputy Defense Secretary Bob Work today promised transparency in the Defense Department’s comprehensive review of its laboratory procedures, processes, and protocols associated with inactivating spore-forming anthrax.
Speaking with Pentagon reporters, Work emphasized that public safety is the department’s top concern, and he provided background on the DoD laboratories and their processes.
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House panel approves FCC transparency bill
A House panel passed a bill aimed at making the FCC more transparent on Wednesday over the objections of Democrats who opposed a trio of Republican amendments on what was originally a bipartisan measure.
The FCC Process Reform Act was approved by the House Energy and Commerce committee through a voice vote.
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LIVE STREAMING June 2, 2015 – Ensuring Transparency through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
HEARING PURPOSE:
To examine the use of FOIA requests as a tool for government transparency and explore barriers to accessing public documents from the user’s perspective. The Committee will hear from witnesses that use FOIA in news reporting, academic research, and to conduct government oversight. View live streaming here
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2015 session in Minnesota shows importance of transparency
The past few weeks of Minnesota's 2015 legislative session aredisproving that old saying about legislation — much like sausage, you don't want to see how it's made.
The more Central Minnesotans learn about last-minute legislative offers, rejections and stealthily silent changes to legislation, the more they should watch and push lawmakers to change how they do the public's business. Continue>>>
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Read More… from 2015 session in Minnesota shows importance of transparency
Oregon – Bill extending records transparency to Legislature dies
SALEM — Lawmakers in Salem love to repeat the quote attributed to Otto von Bismarck, that bill writing is akin to sausage making.
“I was talking to a friend and he said to me, ‘if you like laws or if you like sausage, it’s probably best not to see either one of them getting made’,” Rep. Ann Lininger, D-Lake Oswego, said during a committee meeting in May.
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Read More… from Oregon – Bill extending records transparency to Legislature dies
Utah State Auditor trying to bring more transparency to government on state and local levels
He was a Repubican State Representative for 10 years but then John Dougall was successful in running for the office of State Auditor. On KVNU's For the People program Thursday, Dougall said as a legislator he tried to be a "Constitutional watchdog" and that effort has continued in his new position.
He said one reason he ran was because he felt the auditor's office should be more transparent and he continues to have that for a goal.
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