Press Releases

Open Government Advocates Urge the Senate to Improve Public Access to CRS Reports

WASHINGTON, May 14, 2009 - Over 40 organizations and advocates concerned with government transparency signed on to a letter asking the Senate Rules Committee to hold public hearings on open government issues and to mark-up and pass a resolution by Senator Lieberman (I-CT), S.R. 118, that would improve public access to reports by the Congressional Research Service (CRS). The breadth of organizations supporting the letter, which was organized by the Center for Democracy and Technology (CDT) and OpenTheGovernment.org, reflects the importance of public access to CRS reports.

05/14/2009

OpenTheGovernment.org Launches BailoutWatch.net

WASHINGTON, April 20 - Do you want to know what the government and the financial sector are doing with your tax dollars in the bailout? Well, now you can easily find out. OpenTheGovernment.org announces the launch of BailoutWatch.net, on behalf of the Bailout Watch project, to help the public track and analyze the latest developments in the federal government's massive bailout of financial institutions and other businesses deemed "too big to fail."

04/20/2009

Fourth Annual National Event Will Kick Off National Dialogue on Open Government

WASHINGTON - On Friday, March 20th from 1 - 2:30 eastern, OpenTheGovernment.org will host and webcast a discussion on open government in theory and in practice from the Center for American Progress. Join Patrice McDermott, Director of OpenTheGovernment.org and distinguished open government experts to discuss the development and implementation of President Obama's Open Government Directive and initiatives to advance economic transparency.

03/17/2009

Groups Launch Project in Search of the Government's Most Wanted Documents

Washington, D.C. - The Center for Democracy & Technology and OpenTheGovernment.org today announced the launch of Show Us The Data: The Most Wanted Government Documents, a project aimed at identifying vital government information and encouraging the federal government to put it within easy reach of the public.

02/13/2009

OpenTheGovernment.org: Supreme Court View of Faulty Police Records is "Unreasonable"

WASHINGTON, January 14, 2008 - In response to the recent 5-4 Supreme Court opinion in Herring v United States, OpenTheGovernment.org expresses disappointment that the majority failed to ensure government's responsibility for the accuracy of police databases.

01/14/2009

Good Government Advocates Ask for Transparency and Oversight of Bailout

WASHINGTON, December 8, 2008 - In light of the government's commitment of an estimated $8.5 trillion of taxpayer money to financial rescue initiatives with no transparency and little oversight, OpenTheGovernment.org and the National Taxpayers Union have organized a coalition of over 70 groups in asking that Congress put the public interest first.

12/09/2008

Secrecy Report Card 2008: Continued Expansion of Federal Government Secrecy Seen in 2007

WASHINGTON, Sept. 9, 2008 - Government secrecy increased across a wide spectrum of indicators in 2007, according to a report released today by a coalition of over 70 open government advocates. At the same time, the 110th Congress has moved toward increasing openness and accountability.

09/13/2008

Third Annual National Event Will Explore Executive Branch Secrecy and Tools for Openness

Contact: Chris Green or Patrice McDermott, (202) 332-6736
info at openthegovernment.org

Media Advisory

Join Patrice McDermott, Director of OpenTheGovernment.org and two panels of experts in a national dialogue addressing issues of access to government information, including executive branch power and secrecy, congressional rights and responsibilities, and the role of the public and non-profit sector. The event will begin with a lively discussion of the issues and end with ideas for action and new and exciting ways to find and use government information. Two opportunities for questions and answers will be provided.

03/03/2008

Secrecy Report Card 2007: Report Finds Expanded Federal Government Secrecy in 2006

Contact: Emily Feldman or Patrice McDermott, 202-332-6736
info@openthegovernment.org
View the Secrecy Report Card 2007

WASHINGTON, Sep. 1 -- Government secrecy saw further expansion last year despite growing public concern, according to a report released today by a coalition of open government advocates. The Secrecy Report Card, produced annually by OpenTheGovernment.org in order to identify trends in public access to information, found a troubling lack of transparency in military procurement, assertions of executive privilege, and expansion of "sensitive" categories of information, among other areas.

08/30/2007

New flash animation: Democracy in Jeopardy!

Contact: Patrice McDermott or Emily Feldman
Organization: OpenTheGovernment.org
Phone Number: (202) 332-6736
Email: info@openthegovernment.org
Watch the flash animation

For Immediate Release

WASHINGTON, August 3, 2007 -- OpenTheGovernment.org invites you to come join James Madison, Ms. Public, and George W. Bush in a flash video game show - Democracy in Jeopardy! - about government openness and secrecy. The flash video can be viewed at www.openthegovernment.org -- with links provided for ways to take action to fight back against secrecy and promote openness.

08/30/2007

Press Room