Organization’s Objective
We believe access to information and government openness are cornerstones to citizen engagement in public policy – and essential to strengthening and encouraging a more just and democratic society. The more citizens know, the better prepared and more motivated they are to participate effectively in the decisions that affect their lives, their property, and their physical and economic well-being. When governments become less transparent, they become less democratic. They are avoiding accountability from, and participation by, the public they serve. In addition, for the past few decades, there has been a shift to viewing – and enacting – a more limited role for government. Combined with other factors, there have been moves to erode federal regulatory powers, limit disclosure of government information, and even thwart free speech rights, most specifically related to nonprofit organizations. Some of the problems we address include:
• Government restricting, discouraging or intimidating the free speech of nonprofit organizations, especially in the area of voter engagement
• Protecting and advancing environmental right-to-know programs and policies
• Rollbacks in regulations that protect the public
• Government secrecy, a shift from right-to-know to need-to-know, and limited and antiquated access to government information policies
• The linkage between wealth inequality and political inequality and its impact on American democracy
• The influence of money and politics on science and evidence in government decision-making
• An unresponsive budget process that does not deliver adequate levels of revenue to pay for needed programs and services through a fair tax system
Our ultimate vision is of a more just and democratic society, one in which an open, responsive government protects people’s health, safety, and well-being; safeguards the environment; honors the public’s right to information; values an engaged and effectively citizenry; and adequately invests in the common good. Our definitions of success include ending the growth in government secrecy, stopping attacks on dissident voices – especially those of nonprofits – and putting the nation’s fiscal house in order, to name a few.
