May 2013 Blog Archives


Hack for Western Mass: Local Needs for Government Data

This weekend is Hack for Western Mass, one of over 90 events taking place across the country for the National Day of Civic Hacking. What are local orgs doing with government data? You'd be surprised!


Tax Loopholes: Not Just for Apple

The special tax break for investment income – also known as capital gains and dividends – will let taxpayers off the hook for more than $61 billion in taxes this year. Most of those tax savings go to a particular kind of taxpayer.


Cost of War Will Tackle New Terrain

For more than a decade National Priorities Project's Cost of War site has been keeping track of real-time federal spending on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. But now the Cost of War site is going to tackle new terrain.


A Millennial Middle America

Millennial America – the generation born between 1981 and 2000 – is bigger than the boomers and values innovation, government stewardship and community investment. That means the time is ripe for consumers and environmentalists to push for better clean energy technologies.


Open Government Advocates Unite at Transparency Camp

Meeting people from around the world, setting legislative agendas, and going to Capitol Hill - it's just another day at the Sunlight Foundation's Transparency Camp.


Extra Cash Pushes Debt Ceiling Deadline to September

A better-than-expected cash flow at the U.S. Treasury has turned May 18 into just any old day.


Where Are We Now – It’s Appropriations Season

    May 15 marks the unofficial start of the annual appropriations process on Capitol Hill, where members of the House and Senate funding committees can begin putting together the 12 annual spending bills that support many domestic federal programs and the Pentagon.But first, let’s take a step back. Actually, ...


Open Data from White House Shows Path Forward

Today, the White House is issuing a new Executive Order on Open Data -- one that is significantly different from the open data policies that have come before it -- reflecting Sunlight's persistent call for stronger public listings of agency data, and demonstrating a new path forward for governments committing to open data.


Congress Prevents Flight Delays by Lying; Cuts Funding for Domestic Violence Relief Programs

Last week we explained that Congress was rushing to prevent airport delays, even as education programs and services for vulnerable Americans - such as shelters for victims of domestic violence - were seeing funding cuts. Then lawmakers passed the "Reducing Flight Delays Act" - by lying about a typo and throwing transparency out the window.


A Pathway To a Better Federal Budget

Join me, if you will, in envisioning a pathway to a nation where the federal budget reflects the priorities of the American people.