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Issues Domestic & Economy Open & Accountable Government

Open & Accountable Government

Top Features

Beyond Justice

Beyond Justice

New report from Scott Lilly highlights the Bush administration's attempts to undermine the labor union movement.
Competitive Contracting

Competitive Contracting

Scott Lilly examines federal contracting corruption and outlines steps to restore greater transparency and accountability to procurement.
Governing by the Numbers

Governing by the Numbers

Report from Daniel C. Esty and Reece Rushing explains how information technologies can be used to harvest data for more effective policymaking.

Other Open & Accountable Government Features

May 5, 2008

This Week in Congress 5.5.08-5.9.08

CAP has the resources you need to prepare for immigration, the housing debate, and the farm bill.
April 28, 2008

This Week in Congress 4.28.08 - 5.02.08

CAP prepares you for Medicaid funding, genetic non-discrimination, the Iraqi refugee crisis, and immigration visas.
April 21, 2008

This Week in Congress 4.21.08 - 4.25.08

CAP prepares you for housing crisis legislation, wage discrimination, Medicaid funding, and veterans' benefits.
April 14, 2008

This Week in Congress 4.14.08 - 4.18.08

CAP prepares you for genetic nondiscrimination, student loan legislation, infrastructure, and continued negotiations on the farm bill.
April 7, 2008

This Week in Congress 4.7.08 - 4.11.08

CAP prepares you for testimony from Petraeus and Crocker, the Senate housing package, and international trade and the farm bill.
March 3, 2008

This Week in Congress 3.03.08 - 3.07.08

CAP has everything you need to stay current on what's happening in Congress this week, from health care to national service, FISA, and more.
February 28, 2008

Interactive Map: The Latino Vote in 2008

The growing Latino population will play a key role in the upcoming election.
February 25, 2008

This Week in Congress 2.25.08 - 2.29.08

CAP has everything you need to stay up-to-date on what's happening in Congress this week, from the housing crisis to the war in Iraq, and more.
February 11, 2008

This Week in Congress 2.11.08-2.15.08

From FISA to economic stimulus, housing, and the budget, CAP provides you with resources you need to say on top of the week on the Hill.
February 4, 2008

This Week in Congress 2.4.08-2.8.08

From economic stimulus to FISA and education, CAP provides you with resources to say on top of the week on the Hill.
January 28, 2008

End Pet Projects: Earmarks are a Presidential Problem, Too

Stop spending on pet projects at both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue, writes Scott Lilly, beginning with executive branch. By Scott Lilly
January 14, 2008

This Week in Congress: 1.14.07 – 1.18.07

From mine safety and the economy to Pakistan and the Defense Department budget, CAP provides you with resources to say on top of the week on the Hill.
January 11, 2008

The Fraud of Voter ID Laws

Everything was supposed to change after Bush v. Gore. Never again would the outcome of a presidential election be left in the hands of nine Supreme Court justices who issued their opinion amid nation-wide questions of "hanging chads" and "butterfly ballots." In its opinion, the court said it anticipated "legislative bodies nationwide" would "examine ways to improve the mechanisms and machinery for voting" in order to avoid a repeat of the 2000 recount disaster. Seven years later, however, local, state, and federal governments have failed to fix these flawed voting "mechanisms," leaving the country with low-quality voter registration databases and inadequate safeguards for maintaining voter rolls. By Amanda Terkel
January 10, 2008

Catching Crumbling Infrastructure

The Minneapolis bridge collapse underscores need to modernize infrastructure monitoring, writes Reece Rushing for Science Progress. By Reece Rushing
December 17, 2007

This Week in Congress: 12.17.07 – 12.21.07

From appropriations to energy legislation to foreign affairs, CAP provides you with resources to say on top of the week on the Hill.
December 13, 2007

Ending Torture: CIA Tapes Spur House Action

The House of Representatives passes comprehensive torture ban after CIA tape scandal. The Senate must follow swiftly, writes Mark Agrast. By Mark Agrast
December 10, 2007

This Week in Congress: 12.10.07 – 12.14.07

From the Afghanistan to appropriations, energy legislation and farm legislation, CAP provides you with resources to say on top of the week on the Hill.
November 28, 2007

Progressive Growth

A new plan for the next administration to transform America's economy through clean energy, innovation, and opportunity. By John Podesta, Sarah Rosen Wartell, David Madland
November 13, 2007

This Week in Congress: 11.13.07-11.16.07

From the Farm Bill to energy and climate change hearings to appropriations bills, CAP provides you with resources to stay on top of the week on the Hill.
November 5, 2007

This Week in Congress: 11.5.07-11.9.07

From Iran to the Mukasey nomination to appropriations bills, CAP provides you with resources to stay on top of the week on the Hill.
October 29, 2007

This Week in Congress: 10.29.07-11.2.07

From SCHIP to FISA to worker's rights, CAP provides you with resources to stay on top of the week on the Hill.
October 15, 2007

Pursuing the Global Common Good

When is war justified? Is the use of torture ever acceptable? These are some of the issues in a new book by policy experts and faith leaders, published by the Center for American Progress.
October 2, 2007

Shining Light on Blackwater USA

Private security contractor Blackwater USA faces congressional scrutiny after years of operating under the radar in Iraq.
October 1, 2007

This Week in Congress: 10.1.07 - 10.7.07

From the appropriations process to the genocide in Darfur, CAP provides you with resources to stay on top of the week on the Hill.
September 27, 2007

The Coming 'Stab in the Back' Campaign

By Eric Alterman
September 20, 2007

Think Again: “Michael Mukasey: Man of Mystery”

Rather than make the same mistakes again, Congress should use Judge Mukasey’s confirmation to get straight answers on tough questions. By Eric Alterman
September 5, 2007

For Miners: Too Little, Too Late

CAP report offers solutions for how the government can avert future accidents and what the government could have done to help in Utah.
August 31, 2007

The Case Against Nussle’s Confirmation: Making Government Work

Scott Lilly argues that the train wreck Nussle is likely to create will have implications that extend well beyond partisan politics. By Scott Lilly
August 30, 2007

Think Again: Investigating an Outsourced War

We need the press to step up and get to the bottom of the corruption in Iraq, because the Bush administration is clearly uninterested. By Eric Alterman
August 20, 2007

Flim Flam Won’t Fix Roads

Scott Lilly makes sense of earmarks in highway legislation, the president’s budget claims, and plans to make our infrastructure stronger. By Scott Lilly
August 16, 2007

Last Guys Standing

By John Podesta
July 30, 2007

This Week in Congress: 7.30.07-8.3.07

From children's health care to Iraq and ethics reform, CAP provides you with resources to stay on top of the week on the Hill.
July 23, 2007

Showdown on Government Investment

Scott Lilly speaks out on the additions Congress has proposed for the 2008 budget and why they are important. By Scott Lilly
July 18, 2007

Raise the Bar on Broadband

The FCC should provide Congress and the American public with more reliable information on telecommunications services, writes Mark Lloyd. By Mark Lloyd
July 18, 2007

Giving Taxpayers Their Money's Worth

A House Committee today will probe the billions of taxpayer dollars spent in overpaid contracts to poor-performing contractors.
July 17, 2007

The Voting Section’s Ethical Cloud

A congressional hearing today will probe abuses in the Justice Department’s Voting section detailed in CAP and CCCR’s "Erosion of Rights" report.
July 12, 2007

Clearing the Air on Earmarks

Conservatives in Congress mass produced earmarks, but now they have the audacity to criticize them, writes Scott Lilly By Scott Lilly
July 9, 2007

This Week in Congress: 7.9.07 - 7.13.07

From Iraq to children’s health care to housing, CAP provides you with resources to stay on top of the week on the Hill.
July 5, 2007

Think Again: Lies, Justice, and the Punditocracy's "Place"

Libby’s commuted sentence makes you wonder what happened to the days when lying under oath was the worst thing in the world. By Eric Alterman
June 28, 2007

Over-Classified and Pseudo-Classified

Agrast testifies to Congress on making the DHS the gold standard for designating classified and sensitive information. By Mark Agrast
June 27, 2007

New Study Shows Federal Government Moving Rapidly Toward Non-Competitive Contracts

Scott Lilly on new data that shows federal contracting shifts are changing the power of the executive and the system of checks and balances. By Scott Lilly
June 22, 2007

Goodbye Portman, Hello Nussle

Robb Portman left the OMB after Bush rejected his advice to veto the Military Construction appropriation bill, observes Scott Lilly. By Scott Lilly
June 13, 2007

The Next Chapter in a Scandal

Cooperation from the White House could go a long way in allowing Congress to get the American people a straight and honest story.
June 13, 2007

When Chutzpah is an Understatement

Scott Lilly sets the record straight on earmarking and explains why current criticism over the appropriations process is misguided. By Scott Lilly
May 29, 2007

Feasting Off the Taxpayer

Good government requires officials who represent taxpayers, not businesses, when buying goods and services, writes Scott Lilly. By Scott Lilly
May 16, 2007

Competitive Contracting, by the Numbers

Here’s a by-the-numbers look at corruption, cronyism, and fraud in the federal contracting system.
May 15, 2007

Cronyism and Corruption

Rep. Henry Waxman joined CAP to discuss how to clean up the federal contracting process, which has been marred by waste, fraud, and abuse.
May 10, 2007

Corruption at All Levels

Report from Scott Lilly will examine corrupt federal contracting and outline steps for restoring transparency and accountability.

» More

Where We Stand on Domestic and Economy

CAP’s policy priorities for U.S. domestic and economic policymaking center on building opportunities for all Americans to share in the American Dream. Our policy work concentrates on the core engines that drive equal opportunity, economic mobility, and shared prosperity—education, health care, housing, government oversight, tax reform, and technology innovation. Our progressive domestic and economic priorities underscore our commitment to government that works for the common good.