Up to this point, the recommendation in our report that is met with the most criticism and resistance is the chapter on CRS reports.

The critics have very real concerns. They fear that granting broad, no-fee, public access to CRS reports will affect CRS’s ability to do its job. They fear that CRS will come under undue public scutiny and pressure, and that Congress will ultimately suffer as the value of the reports diminishes.

I think these objections can all be overcome. For example, if the public version of the reports doesn’t contain the name of the person who prepared it, that person would be free from any public pressure.

For now, however, this is all beside the point.

There needs to be movement towards CRS reports being public. And, despite the persistence of a few members who have repeatedly pushed for legislation that would do so, it just isn’t happening right now. Staffers all seem to say “yeah, that’s a tough one.”

These changes are about finding appropriate incremental reforms. With CRS reports, there’s a huge step toward change that can be taken right now in member offices. They can start posting CRS reports to their member and committee websites.

Any member of Congress, in supporting the needs of their constituents, should want to share the information that they’re using to make important decisions. For example, if you’re dealing with constituent pressure on immigration, why not post the relevant CRS reports on immigration? If you’re working on Executive Oversight issues, why not share the resources you use to make decisions? Trying to make a specific case about agriculture, or energy? Post a report that shares the details you use to do your job.

Citizens win, since they get access to the clear, non-biased, timely expert research that everyone agress CRS provides. Members win, since they get to drive traffic to their websites and provide valuable information, making them look better informed and well connected. Advocated of opening CRS to the public win also, since public knowledge of CRS reports will increase with exposure. You can’t ask for access to something whose existence you’re unaware of.

Questions of policy will probably come later. A good first step would be for Senators and Representatives to selectively share CRS reports with the rest of us.