Open Congress Redesign

OpenCongress, the free, open-source, not-for-profit, non-partisan, one-stop web resource that brings together official government data with news and blog coverage, social networking and public participation tools has completely redesigned its website to enhance its mission to make Congress more transparent and to encourage civic engagement.

We’ve redesigned every nook and cranny of the website with a focus on bringing more clarity and comprehension to the obscure legislative puzzle that is Congress. Besides the new design, we’re also going public with a bunch of new features today that make it easier for people to turn their browsing and research of bills before Congress into powerful political action, instantly. The site improvements we’re launching today are a big step towards fulfilling our mission of opening up the lawmaking process and creating a more participatory political environment.

Latest News:

House panel pushes health bill to brink of passage

House Compromise Would Let Medicare Negotiate Drug Prices.

Links:

govtrack helps you keep tabs on the U.S. Congress.

MAPLight Illuminating the connection between Money And Politics

OpenSecrets is the nation’s premier independent website tracking the influence of money on U.S. politics, and how that money affects policy and citizens’ lives.

OpenCongress Widgets

Project RaceTracker, is crowd-sourced project that allows individuals to add information about who’s running for office in their district and state, as long as the info is referenced to an outside source.

Bills:

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009

America's Affordable Health Choices Act 2009

Military Readiness Enhancement Act of 2009

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Do We Have More Corruption Now?

I don't think we do but it sure seems that way. It's easy to forget the corruption we did not live through or that happened in the past. One of the only reasons we may have more corruption now is because we have created laws that make what used to be considered fair play, corruption.

The playing field is being leveled and for the first time in history, “we the people” have a shot at running the country and taking the country back for ourselves. The internet has given everyone a voice, whether you are male or female, black, white or brown; rich or poor; old or young; gay or straight. The people at the top have a formidable opponent now and better watch their step, because Sam the sanitation worker or Dora the domestic engineer might take you down.

I think we are better off now than we ever were. Technology has created a bridge across the mote so the common people have more access to the political elites. I don't even know that the corruption is any worse than before, but at least we have the tools to investigate and report on it from the grass roots level.

-- Thomas Friedman

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