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Open CRS: Free Government Research Reports

Posted by samzenpus on from the 4-out-of-5-politicians dept.

securitas writes "Ted Bridis of the Associated Press reports that more than 8000 Congressional Research Service reports produced exclusively for legislators are now available to the public for free. The Center for Democracy & Technology's Open CRS project is a Web-based central clearinghouse that features several collections of government reports. The research service has '... a staff of more than 700 and a nearly $100 million budget ...' but 'CRS Reports do not become public until a member of Congress releases the report.' The Open CRS project wants your help in obtaining and adding reports to the database."

2 of 95 comments (clear)

  1. Re:If the government were truly free by Rosco+P.+Coltrane · · Score: 4, Insightful

    If the government were truly representative of the People, you wouldn't have trouble with openness. As it stands, though, the People care more about their Big Macs and SUVs than voting.

    The government *is* representative of the people: as you say yourself, the people doesn't give a fuck about the government, so it's no surprise the government doesn't give a fuck about the people either.

    People have the government they deserve: if all they can do is groan a little during tax time, but otherwise trust the administration to run things, what do you expect? The government will (and does) run amok eventually.

    --
    "A door is what a dog is perpetually on the wrong side of" - Ogden Nash
  2. Re:Well, duh... by Hartree · · Score: 4, Insightful

    So I grasp what you're saying, We don't want CRS to become some politically-correct-don't-write-anything-really-us eful-the- public-might-see-it organization, but I really don't imagine that happening.

    I can.

    In the late 70s when there was congressional investigation over windfall profits by the oil companies. There were also trials resulting from it. The lawyers of those companies tried to subpeona the files of the CRS to try to use in their cases. (Likely it was a tactic to create a chilling effect).

    Now, multiply that by everly pressure group and lobbyist you can think of on any side of any issue. It's hard to write a balanced and neutral report when you're worried about being called to testify, or going to have your phone overflow with angry (insert-special-interest).