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Printer Friendly Version
Report Identifies Government's Most-Wanted Information
The Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT) and OpenTheGovernment.org released “Show Us The Data: The Most Wanted Government Documents,” a joint report based on an interactive, user-driven search to identify the most sought-after unclassified government documents and information.
The project has been timed to help inform changes in open government polices now under way at the federal level. Beyond identifying the wanted government documents and information, the report includes policy recommendations for making government more transparent.
"The public's response was tremendous," said Ari Schwartz, vice president of the CDT. "Users identified an impressive and thoughtful range of government information that they need or want access to. That type of grassroots hunger for government information speaks volumes about the need for greater government openness and updated internal policies for making government information easily accessible."
The report provides background on each of the 10 most-wanted documents or databases and provides insight into the institutional challenges and barriers that keep public access laws from being fully implemented. The report also notes that significant loopholes in these public access laws have eroded the public's access to and faith in government information.
"The public is speaking loudly and clearly; they want all branches of our federal government to make the information they hold in trust for us available, accessible, findable, and usable," said Patrice McDermott, director of OpenTheGovernment.org. "We encourage the public to stay engaged and help us make sure these changes happen."
And there are success stories. "The report identifies government Web sites that are taking the right steps toward making government information easily accessible," Schwartz said. "And we identify websites the Obama administration has created that give us reason to be optimistic about a new era of government openness and transparency."
The report outlines the following as the most-wanted information:
• All Congressional research service reports
• Information about the use of TARP and bailout funds
• Open and accessible federal court documents through the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) system
• Current federal contractor projects
• Court settlements involving federal agencies
• Access to comprehensive information about legislation and congressional actions via THOMAS or public access to Legislative Information Service
• Online access to electronic campaign disclosures
• Daily schedules of the president and cabinet officials
• Personal financial disclosures from policymakers across government
• State Medicaid plans and waivers
The work on this project will update and expand previous reports published by OMB Watch, the Center for Democracy & Technology, and OpenTheGovernment.org:
• “10 Most Wanted Government Documents for 1999”
• “10 Most Wanted Government Documents for 2004”
• “Hiding in Plain Sight: Why Important Government Information Cannot Be Found Through Commercial Search Engines”
ARMA International Washington Policy Brief, April
