Congress A-Twitter Over Online Rules

The Sunlight Foundation has launched the "Let Our Congress Tweet" project urging Congress to reconsider rules against members posting to third-party Web sites, such as Twitter.

As an article in Ars Technica explained, there's been a debate in the House of Representatives over rules that prohibit members from posting to any service other than the house.gov domain. Rep. Michael E. Capuano (D-Mass.) has proposed easing the regulation to allow posting to sites where the content will not be alongside commercial or political messages, the primary reason such action is currently disallowed.

Rep. John Culberson (R-Tex.), said he has been "using this new technology this past May, and have since been communicating with the public in real time through text messaging and live video streamed directly to the Internet…. I have been able to answer questions, take suggestions from the public and become more accountable in my day-to-day undertakings in Washington. I am the first to personally send a text message (through Twitter.com) on the House floor, soliciting YOUR input on current legislation."

"I have suddenly found myself on the front lines of a worthwhile campaign to open up Congress to every kind of communication on these new media outlets," he added. "This has happened spontaneously and naturally, which makes it even more interesting and meaningful because this story demonstrates the speed and power of these new media outlets.

"These new tools truly have the power to put We the People in every room in Washington, D. C.

"Congress urgently needs more sunshine," Culberson noted. "The House rules must be changed to give Members of Congress full unfettered access to new media in the same way we are given full unfettered access to old media."

To learn more about the issue, go to the Sunlight Foundation's "Let Our Congress Tweet" site, read the Ars Technica article, or visit Culberson's Web site.

Comments

[Olinda]

Keep up the good work.

[John Reed]

Thanks! Really funny. I wish i could spend my time on writing articles...just have no time for it.