[10586] in Public-Access_Computer_Systems_Forum
US Leg docs on-line
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (PACS-L Moderator)
Fri Sep 6 20:34:11 1996
Date: Fri, 06 Sep 1996 17:22:17 -0500 (CDT)
From: PACS-L Moderator <libpacs@UH.EDU>
To: Multiple recipients of list PACS-L <PACS-L@UHUPVM1.UH.EDU>
Reply-To: Public-Access Computer Systems Forum <PACS-L@UHUPVM1.UH.EDU>
----------------------------Original message----------------------------
From: andyrose@netcom.com (San Francisco Fractal Factory)
Subject: US Leg docs on-line
apologies for the wide post - seemed important
-a
* * * * * * * * * *
Getting Into the House (of Representatives)
Gary Ruskin of the Congressional Accountability Project is seeking help from
cyberspace activists in signing up co-sponsors in the House of
Representatives for House Resolution 478, which would provide citizens with
Internet access to many important House documents that are not available
through the federal government's existing Internet services. Introduced by
Representative Rick White (R-WA), H.R. 478 would enable anyone with Internet
access to obtain the same documents presently made available to Washington
lobbyists. At present, there are only four co-sponsors of the resolution,
Reps. Dreier (R-CA), Bass (R-NH), Brownback (R-KS), and Frisa (R-NY).
Access to these documents is critical to public interest advocates inside
and outside of the Beltway who are working to influence federal legislation.
According to Ruskin, committee hearing records, which are often available to
Washington lobbyists within 48 hours, may not be provided to citizen
activists for a year or more.
H.R. 478 will pass if there are enough co-sponsors to generate political
pressure. Cyberspace activists are urged to contact their House member and
ask them to co-sponsor the resolution. All members of the House can be
reached through the Congressional Switchboard, at (202) 224-3121. While
some members have E-mail, electronic communication is not as effective as a
telephone call or fax.
Because the resolution would provide Internet access to House travel expense
reports, oversight plans, and committee staff lists, the media is a likely
ally on this issue. Consider writing a short letter to the editor of your
local paper, or call the editor and suggest an editorial on the subject.
Local television and radio outlets may be willing to air a 60-second public
service announcement in support of the resolution.
To receive Congressional Reform Briefings from the Congressional
Accountability Project, send an email message to: listproc@essential.org
In the body of the message type: subscribe cong-reform <firstname> <lastname>
HotWired writer Brock Meeks has written two articles about online access to
Congressional documents. The articles are located at:
http://www.netizen.com/netizen/96/29/index3a.html and
http://www.hotwired.com/muckraker/96/10/index3a.html
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