WASHINGTON, DC–On his first full day in office, President Barack Obama committed his administration "to creating an unprecedented level of openness in government." To help meet that goal, the administration has issued an Open Government Directive, a new memorandum on the Freedom of Information Act, and attorney general guidelines. The administration has also launched an expansive effort to open up data to developers, advocates, and the public via Data.gov.
Join us for this three-panel event to hear our panelists—transparency experts from inside and outside government—discuss these initiatives and their effect on the public. The first panel will focus on the White House’s efforts to embed transparency in the system by, in part, requiring each agency to develop an open government plan, and post open government pages. During the second panel, our panelists will discuss how recent changes to law and policy affect a citizen’s ability to request and receive information from the federal government. During the last panel, developers and advocates will explain how they use government information like the data on Data.gov to make a difference for the public.
Panelists will also take questions from the live and viewing audience.
If you are a member of the press, please RSVP to Jason Rahlan at [email protected].
Introduction by:
Reece Rushing, Director of Government Reform, Center for American Progress
Panel 1: Developing an Open Government Plan
Norm Eisen, Special Counsel to the President for Ethics and Government Reform
Jim Harper, Director of Information Policy Studies, Cato Institute
John Wonderlich, Policy Director, Sunlight Foundation
Moderated by:
Patrice McDermott, Director, OpenTheGovernment.org
Panel 2: Citizen Access to Government Information
Kevin Goldberg, counsel, American Society of News Editors (ASNE)
Miriam Nisbet, Director, Office of Government Information Services (OGIS)
Melanie Sloan, Executive Director, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW)
Melanie Pustay, Director, Department of Justice (DOJ) Office of Information Policy (OIP)
Moderated by:
Patrice McDermott, Director, OpenTheGovernment.org
Panel 3: Effects of Government Transparency on the Public
Laura Beavers, National KIDS COUNT Coordinator, Annie E. Casey Foundation
Eric Gundersen, President and co-founder, Development Seed
Moderated by:
Sean Moulton, Director of Federal Information Policy, OMB Watch.
A light lunch will be served at 11:30 a.m.
Map & Directions
Center for American Progress 1333 H St. NW, 10th Floor Washington, DC 20005
Nearest Metro: Blue/Orange Line to McPherson Square or Red Line to Metro Center
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