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Member Since: 5/2006

CJ's & Newsvine Push Congressional Disclosures

News Type: Event — Tue Feb 20, 2007 11:44 PM EST

The Sunlight Foundation tracked down 1,753 of the total 1,810 earmarks in just one appropriations bill and provides an interactive map to see if any of the money is reaching your community.

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As part of an ongoing effort to create transparency and accountability in Congress, The Sunlight Foundation launched a project to evaluate Congressional websites. They put out a call for citizens and journalists to help spread the word and aid the investigations.

Newsviners and others answered the call. The Foundation announced, "Roughly 143 hours after releasing our latest citizen journalism project, we're approaching the half way mark: 265 members have been investigated by citizen journalists, 271 remain to be done."

Pat yourselves on the backs and roll up your sleeves to finish the job. I know oldfogey has already done investigating for one Member of Congress and more than a few others have pitched in without telling us who you are. We have a lot of political junkies around here and many of us have favorites to focus on. We know Congress can use all the help we can provide to keep things on the up and up. Tired of feeling like you can't make a huge difference, now you can. A link for details is below, let's go get them!!

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{"commentId":544798,"authorDomain":"PamelaDrew"}
Pamela Drew

The Sunlight Foundation instructions for an MOC site review.

{"commentId":544798,"threadId":"78447","contentId":"578700","authorDomain":"PamelaDrew"}
  • 4 votes
Reply#1 - Tue Feb 20, 2007 11:02 PM EST
{"commentId":544854,"authorDomain":"PamelaDrew"}
Pamela Drew

Here's a link for the earmark maps.

{"commentId":544854,"threadId":"78447","contentId":"578700","authorDomain":"PamelaDrew"}
  • 4 votes
#1.1 - Tue Feb 20, 2007 11:42 PM EST
{"commentId":544991,"authorDomain":"ISPY"}
I SPY

Very Coolski Pamela Drew :)

{"commentId":544991,"threadId":"78447","contentId":"578700","authorDomain":"ISPY"}
  • 4 votes
#1.2 - Wed Feb 21, 2007 2:28 AM EST
{"commentId":545145,"authorDomain":"PamelaDrew"}
Pamela Drew

We New Yawkahs specialize in Coolski, eh? :~)

{"commentId":545145,"threadId":"78447","contentId":"578700","authorDomain":"PamelaDrew"}
  • 4 votes
#1.3 - Wed Feb 21, 2007 7:32 AM EST
{"commentId":545280,"authorDomain":"ISPY"}
I SPY

Well there are worse places to be today than Noo York Ciddy, In Moscow it's a brisk -16ºc

{"commentId":545280,"threadId":"78447","contentId":"578700","authorDomain":"ISPY"}
  • 4 votes
#1.4 - Wed Feb 21, 2007 9:01 AM EST
{"commentId":546478,"authorDomain":"PamelaDrew"}
Pamela Drew

It was an amazing day, beyond the grey snow drifts, spring in the air and open coats, a real shift from last weeek's Artic Express. A news note on the local tonight that Watertown NY was -36 yesterday and 41 today, a 76 degree swing, wow!

{"commentId":546478,"threadId":"78447","contentId":"578700","authorDomain":"PamelaDrew"}
    #1.5 - Wed Feb 21, 2007 5:34 PM EST
    Reply
    {"commentId":544990,"authorDomain":"uspolitics"}
    Kathy Gill

    Two plugs: at About.com and WiredPen.

    {"commentId":544990,"threadId":"78447","contentId":"578700","authorDomain":"uspolitics"}
    • 6 votes
    Reply#2 - Wed Feb 21, 2007 2:27 AM EST
    {"commentId":545144,"authorDomain":"PamelaDrew"}
    Pamela Drew

    That's more than I figured on, two sites is fantastic; we'll finish the list in no time, thanks!!

    {"commentId":545144,"threadId":"78447","contentId":"578700","authorDomain":"PamelaDrew"}
    • 3 votes
    #2.1 - Wed Feb 21, 2007 7:30 AM EST
    Reply
    {"commentId":545114,"authorDomain":"LAUHAL63"}
    lauhal

    Cool. I just did this for two websites. Thanks for the information.

    {"commentId":545114,"threadId":"78447","contentId":"578700","authorDomain":"LAUHAL63"}
    • 5 votes
    Reply#3 - Wed Feb 21, 2007 6:59 AM EST
    {"commentId":545140,"authorDomain":"PamelaDrew"}
    Pamela Drew

    Fabulous, thanks. You get two gold stars for today luahal! Go get those MOC's up to speed on transparency!!

    {"commentId":545140,"threadId":"78447","contentId":"578700","authorDomain":"PamelaDrew"}
    • 4 votes
    #3.1 - Wed Feb 21, 2007 7:25 AM EST
    Reply
    {"commentId":545577,"authorDomain":"ForestBrowne"}
    Forest Browne

    Working on Oregon as we speak...

    Forest

    {"commentId":545577,"threadId":"78447","contentId":"578700","authorDomain":"ForestBrowne"}
    • 2 votes
    Reply#4 - Wed Feb 21, 2007 11:30 AM EST
    {"commentId":546487,"authorDomain":"PamelaDrew"}
    Pamela Drew

    Bravo Forest, that's an extra pinch of 21 year old for you, three cheers. I'm going to poke around and see who I find.

    {"commentId":546487,"threadId":"78447","contentId":"578700","authorDomain":"PamelaDrew"}
    • 2 votes
    #4.1 - Wed Feb 21, 2007 5:37 PM EST
    Reply
    {"commentId":546708,"authorDomain":"sunlightlabs"}
    sunlightlabs

    Thanks so much, everyone! We really appreciate the effort and your time.

    If you're a wonk or wonkette, you might also be interested in The Open House Project, which The Sunlight Foundation is sponsoring. They're aiming to "Produce a report with a series of recommendations in late March on how Congress can open its business to the public." The listserv is quite active and very interesting.

    {"commentId":546708,"threadId":"78447","contentId":"578700","authorDomain":"sunlightlabs"}
    • 1 vote
    Reply#5 - Wed Feb 21, 2007 7:51 PM EST
    {"commentId":546824,"authorDomain":"PamelaDrew"}
    Pamela Drew

    We'll get the dirt out of their pockets, if we have to shake them by their virtual ankles to see, what We The People, pay for.

    {"commentId":546824,"threadId":"78447","contentId":"578700","authorDomain":"PamelaDrew"}
    • 2 votes
    #5.1 - Wed Feb 21, 2007 8:59 PM EST
    Reply
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