It’s an election year, and you’re hearing a lot about the economy, inequality, jobs, the federal deficit, and the national debt. The federal deficit is high, but the country is not "broke." We still have the largest economy in the world and a wealth of resources. There are multiple sources of revenue we could tap before asking more from a struggling middle class. How would you bring in more federal revenue to fulfill our obligations to the elderly, maintain the public structures the economy needs to grow, and enhance opportunities for future generations? Please take a few minutes and use our short, online survey to tell us what you think is best for the nation. You can also explore the survey results and background materials here on our website.

An interagency project underway could revolutionize implementation of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and significantly improve transparency and efficiency. The project to develop a government-wide portal for FOIA requests, a goal long supported by the open government community, could deliver as soon as this fall.

Outside groups are spending nearly 1,300 percent more on broadcast advertising for the 2012 election than they did in 2008, according to an analysis released on Jan. 30. This is the clearest demonstration yet that Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission has fundamentally rewritten the rules for political spending.

During the week of Jan. 30, the House began debating a slew of budget reform measures, part of a package of 10 bills proposed by the House Budget Committee that affect everything from budget resolutions to the president’s veto power. Of the 10 pieces of legislation, two have passed the House so far.