In 2006, I ran for Congress against -- and, with your help, defeated -- entrenched Republican incumbent John Sweeney. If there was one thing I knew about John Sweeney it's that he was not exactly a champion of open and honest government. So, when I entered Congress in 2007, it was very important to me to take a step toward restoring people's faith in government by setting a real example of transparency and disclosure. I felt then and believe now that my constituents deserve open and honest leadership, which is precisely what I endeavored to deliver through an unprecedented transparency agenda.
In 2007, as a new member of Congress, I was proud to be the first member ever to list all of my daily official meetings on my congressional schedule, all federal earmark requests I supported and all personal financial disclosure reports on my congressional Web site’s Sunlight Report. I am now continuing to do that in the Senate.
Generally, the Federal Elections Commission does a good job of reporting online who donates to elected officials’ campaigns, however, that is only half of the story. By publishing my official meetings, my constituents get to see who is lobbying me and on what. And if someone I represent sees that I have met with a group whose views they oppose, they can contact my office to make sure their viewpoint is heard, too. I don’t and won’t agree with every group I meet with, but we are all better served when I have the benefit of all sides of an argument.
Similarly, listing all federal earmark requests I make provides taxpayers the opportunity to let me know their priorities. If you look at the list of projects I have submitted and don’t see an investment that you think is valuable for your community, you can contact my office and make your case directly. This allows for increased accountability and also helps level the playing field for those who don’t have the luxury of hiring a lobbyist.
Because all earmarks are paid for with taxpayer dollars, the public has a right to know how I propose to steer federal funding. If I can’t defend a project and list it on my Web site, I certainly shouldn’t be asking for it to be funded. Many voters have lost faith in their elected officials and feel they are bought and paid for by special interests. That is why I voluntarily post my financial disclosure report online to try to eliminate any doubt about the fact that I will always vote for what is best for New York, not my own self-interests.
I can’t change Washington overnight, but I can choose to conduct my office in a manner that is consistent with open and transparent government. While I was the first in Congress to list my meetings and earmarks online, I am no longer the only one. Over time, I believe more and more public officials will take advantage of the opportunities offered by the Internet to engage citizens in their government.
Which is also one of the reasons I enjoy posting here at DailyKos. This community is all about open communication and holding leaders accountable. It also offers me an opportunity to share my thoughts with you and to get an immediate response. And while I'm not always able to stick around and respond directly to your questions, we do read all of your comments and have responded to at least one question from the comment threads here via video over at Conversations With Kirsten. The conversations and activism that take place here at DailyKos typify the openness of communication and the democratization of information that the Internet affords and is something I really appreciate.
Moving forward, I promise you I will do my part to shine more light on Congress, both within my own office and throughout Washington by pushing for more transparency in federal agencies through innovative Web sites such as www.recovery.gov . It's only through increased oversight, transparency and accountability that we will truly make the change we all seek and I sincerely hope you will continue to help me in that endeavor.
I also promise to hang out in the threads of my diaries more. I won't be able to every time but I do pledge to keep coming back as regularly as I can. I have some time right now so please fire away.