Last night I read the entire CRS report that I posted yesterday, Congress and the Internet: Highlights. There were several things about that report that got me excited, including a beautifully rendered history of Congress adapting to new technology. I’ll write more about that in a bit, since the detail that most caught my eye was on page 9:

A number of outside entities, such as the Sunlight Foundation, [http://www.sunlightfoundation.com], strive to promote more transparency of and accessibility to the legislative branch by the citizenry… The Sunlight Foundation, in May 2007, issued its “Open House Project” report containing 10 ways to strengthen the sharing of information between Congress and lawmakers’ constituents. Two examples: require House committees to place promptly online the transcripts of their proceedings and make available to the public over the Internet broadcast-quality video of House and Senate floor activity and all committee hearings…

I’m very pleased that our analysis and suggestions have been welcomed by Congress; and now having their non-partisan research arm cite our analysis in a description of the current state of Congress and the Internet shows that our work is being taken seriously.

This wasn’t ever really in doubt, given the welcome our work received from leadership in both parties, and the amount of inquiries we’ve received from technical staff thoughout the House and legislative support agencies.

Part of the reason that this particular report was so striking to me is probably personal; it was the accessible work of the author of this report, Walter Oleszek, that helped to get me up to a passing competence in understanding our government, so I could start to meaningfully research its exposure from the perspective of a private citizen online. I can think of several conversations last November and December that I wouldn’t have been prepared for if it weren’t for Congressional Procedures and the Policy Process and Congress and Its Members. (Both books written or edited by Oleszek.) (More background on my history in getting involved in this project can be found here.)
That our efforts through the Open House Project have become worthy of congressional citation in such a short time brings the process full circle for me, and demonstrates the constructive potential of collaborative projects and public deliberation.

The rest of this report is absolutely worth reading, especially for its historical perspective on democracy adjusting to advances in communications and computer technology, and also for its spirited defense of republican democracy in the face of such a direct medium.