Transparency meeting with Governor's office

Hoping to build on the successful adoption of WPC’s recommendation to create a searchable budget website this year (SB 6818), I had the opportunity to meet with the Governor's Chief of Staff and the Director of the Department of Information Services yesterday on ways to improve state agency website transparency. The meeting was set up on behalf of the Washington Coalition for Open Government (WCOG). WPC is a member of WCOG and I have the privilege of serving as Treasurer of WCOG. 

Along with other representatives of WCOG, I encouraged the Governor's office to take advantage of tools offered by search engine companies (such as Microsoft and Google), to help improve the accessibility of information on government websites. Here is an example of the service offered by Google. Microsoft has indicated it is interested in providing the same type of service.

I also suggested the Governor could encourage state agencies and local governments to make information about requesting public records more accessible on their websites.

Here are some examples of what Florida has done:

• Open Government Bill of Rights
• Making a public records request
• List of public records officers
• List of agency public record pages
• Executive order creating the Office of Open Government

The information WCOG provided was well received. I'll keep you posted on any developments.

Comments

[Josef]

Actually, the State Register lists most public records officers as per RCW 42.56.580.

The rest of the imports I truly, honestly like as well as your persistence on this issue Jason.