Good-government group offers 'bounties' to people who can get their Senator or Rep. to make their schedules public

RAW STORY
Published: Thursday September 28, 2006

A Good-government group is offering "bounties" to people who can get their Senator or Congressman to make their schedules public, according to Roll Call.

"The Sunlight Network, an offshoot of the Sunlight Foundation, which was founded in January, is offering $2,000 to people who get a Senator or Congressman to put their John Hancocks on a pledge to release their schedules," report Bree Hocking and Josh Kurtz for Roll Call.

According to the Sunlight Network's website, the Punch Clock campaign has gotten five politicians to sign on.

In Pennslyvania, Democractic Congressional candidates Anthony Barr and Lois Herr agreed to the pledge, along with GOP Congressional candidate Dr. Joseph Leonardi. New Jersey Democratic Congressional candidate Tom Wyka and Illinois Congressional candidate Charles Hutchinson have also signed on.

Excerpts from article:

#

The group wants Members to post their daily schedules on the Internet, including lists of their meetings, with whom they met and functions they attend, including fundraisers.

Anyone who can get a federal candidate to sign up will receive $250 from the “punch the clock” campaign.

The Sunlight Network, which is largely underwritten by Michael Klein, a securities lawyer and restaurateur, says its goal is to “enable citizens to learn more about what Congress and their elected representatives are doing, and thus help reduce corruption, ensure greater transparency and accountability by government, and foster public trust in the vital institutions of democracy,” according to its Web site.

#

ROLL CALL SUBSCRIBERS CAN READ FULL ARTICLE AT THIS LINK