Sen. Gillibrand Unveils First Sunlight Report

by: robert.harding

Fri Apr 03, 2009 at 18:14:41 PM EDT

To follow up on that promise of openness and transparency, Sen. Gillibrand released her first Sunlight Report, which provides her official Senate schedule, as well as her personal financial disclosure and a complete list of earmarks that she requested for the current fiscal year.

You can see Sen. Gillibrand's Sunlight Report here.

In her statement on the unveiling of her Sunlight Report, Gillibrand said that her constituents deserve openness and transparency and have a right to know what she is doing as their senator.

"The public deserves a government that is open, honest, and transparent," Senator Gillibrand said.  "That's what this Web site is about. New Yorkers can log on and see what I'm working on, keep track of the progress we're making to improve their lives, and send me ideas along the way."

Senator Gillibrand is a long time advocate for more public disclosure. She strongly supports President Obama's plans to reform the earmark process and plans to lead by example, letting New Yorkers know who she is meeting with and what she is working on in the U.S. Senate.

The Sunlight Report is viewable at Senator Gillibrand's new official web site. The site will provide New Yorkers with information on the Senator's agenda and how to contact her offices. As Senator Gillibrand continues to travel the state, the web site will include more information on what she is hearing about in communities across New York.

From job creation and affordable health care to promoting fair opportunity for every New Yorker, Senator Gillibrand's web site highlights her record on issues affecting New Yorkers and her action to move New York forward.

"I believe in open and honest government, transparency and accountability not just because it's what New York deserves, but because it produces the best policies and government. In these challenging economic times, we need this now more than ever," Senator Gillibrand added.

I don't know why every member of Congress isn't doing this, but they should. Sen. Gillibrand is leading by example when it comes to being open and honest about her official Senate schedule, her personal financial disclosures and what earmarks her constituents get.

As I said in the opening, you may agree with her or disagree with her, but one thing you should like about Sen. Gillibrand is that she doesn't do things behind closed doors and she doesn't operate in the shadows.

Remember, it was Gillibrand who posted on her campaign website the disclosure forms she submitted to Governor David Paterson when she was in the running for the Senate appointment. She proved then that transparency was a must for her and she is proving that again with today's announcement.

A Line in the Sand: A.11432

by: Roatti

Thu Jun 19, 2008 at 01:03:44 AM EDT

The current Superintendent of Insurance is Eric Dinallo, a Spitzer appointee.  I'm sure he is a good public servant, but he is not the issue here.  The issue is the State giving one person broad discretionary power to deny the public's access to our own government.  New York's state government is already one of, if not the most opaque in the nation; the absolute last thing we need is any legislation making it even more opaque.

There has been a lot of discussion on this site about the nature of our Democratic-controlled Assembly.  Well, here is a litmus test if I've ever seen one.  No good Democrat or democrat should ever support this bill.  You can lookup your Assemblymember here and drop them a line telling them how much you disagree with the very principles of this bill and urge them not to pass it.  Let's hope our Assembly Democrats live up the ideals of transparent and open government- this is their chance to show us where they stand.  

UPDATE:  Jeffrey Dinowitz has responded to me to say that he doubts this bill will come to the floor for a vote, but if it does, he will vote against it.  Credit where credit is due.  And he also mentioned that he reads TAP, which is a good thing.  

Bruno: Government Should be More Opaque

by: Roatti

Tue Jun 17, 2008 at 23:37:31 PM EDT

This bill, S.8446/A. 11432 would make these documents exempt from freedom of information laws, disclosure under public officers law, or subpoena.

It's passed through the Senate (with no sponsors, which, according to NYPIRG's Blair Horner, "is how you know a bill really stinks")

I guess it's easy to see why someone under an FBI investigation is scared of sunlight.  But what's Joe Morelle's excuse for sponsoring the Assembly version?

Happy Sunshine Week

by: BrooklynRaider

Thu Mar 01, 2007 at 11:57:25 AM EST

Times-Union Senior Editor Bob Port compares New York to Florida, and finds we've got a lot to learn:

In New York, a citizen who marches into town hall and asks to see the town supervisor's appointment calendar can be greeted by a laugh or a snarl from the staff.

"Make a FOIL request" is frequently the response, a reference to New York's often-cited Freedom of Information Law. A particular document might not be available, depending on the government's mood, for, oh, a couple of months.

In Florida, that same request wouldn't cause laughter. An immediate photocopy is anyone's right -- and all government officials know it.