Shine a Light

Shine a Light

Kudos to new Senator Jon Tester and Representative Kirsten Gillibrand. They’ve become the only two members of Congress to post their work schedules online. That doesn’t sound like much. But in a place like Washington, where so many deals get done in secret, behind closed doors, letting everyone see what you’re up to is a courageous act.

The idea was spearheaded by the Sunlight Foundation, an innovative new group in Washington run by veteran watchdoger Ellen Miller. Thanks to them, you can peruse the archives of Senator Tester’s schedule here and Rep. Gillibrand’s “Sunlight Report” here.

Both Tester and Gillibrand won elections in which ethics played a major role. They should be congratulated for sticking to their commitments. Hopefully the push for greater transparency will lead to farther-reaching reforms, like publicly financed elections.

Copy Link
Facebook
X (Twitter)
Bluesky
Pocket
Email

Kudos to new Senator Jon Tester and Representative Kirsten Gillibrand. They’ve become the only two members of Congress to post their work schedules online. That doesn’t sound like much. But in a place like Washington, where so many deals get done in secret, behind closed doors, letting everyone see what you’re up to is a courageous act.

The idea was spearheaded by the Sunlight Foundation, an innovative new group in Washington run by veteran watchdoger Ellen Miller. Thanks to them, you can peruse the archives of Senator Tester’s schedule here and Rep. Gillibrand’s “Sunlight Report” here.

Both Tester and Gillibrand won elections in which ethics played a major role. They should be congratulated for sticking to their commitments. Hopefully the push for greater transparency will lead to farther-reaching reforms, like publicly financed elections.

I just got off the phone with Senator Tester and encouraged him to persuade his fellow Senators to follow his lead. Something tells me that in the world’s most exclusive club, there won’t be many eager volunteers.

Your support makes stories like this possible

From Minneapolis to Venezuela, from Gaza to Washington, DC, this is a time of staggering chaos, cruelty, and violence. 

Unlike other publications that parrot the views of authoritarians, billionaires, and corporations, The Nation publishes stories that hold the powerful to account and center the communities too often denied a voice in the national media—stories like the one you’ve just read.

Each day, our journalism cuts through lies and distortions, contextualizes the developments reshaping politics around the globe, and advances progressive ideas that oxygenate our movements and instigate change in the halls of power. 

This independent journalism is only possible with the support of our readers. If you want to see more urgent coverage like this, please donate to The Nation today.

Ad Policy
x