Sunshine, sunshine everywhere? Ah, were it only true—even the sort that one of these days will melt the snow in my yard and draw toward it the sharp green shoots of daffodils and tulips. As for political sunshine: I’ve refrained thus far from joining the fray about former Gov. Spitzer, which all came about shortly after I posted here about New York’s Project Sunlight, designed to let New Yorker’s know what their elected officials were, um, up to. It was good of the governor to do so much to make it happen.

Otherwise, this is national Sunshine Week, with events happening around the country to bring (more!) attention to transparency and accountability to government. Their website has lots of resources for organizations and individuals to use throughout the campaign season ahead.

Two developments in Vermont: one is the Prosperity Project launched by the Vermont Chamber of Commerce, which is along the same lines as NY’s Project Sunlight in that one may find out how one’s elected officials have voted on legislation. It’s the latest of many such projects started by Chambers of Commerce around the country. Not so lacking in overt agenda as NY’s service, however, as one must go through the Chamber’s homepage to access the service, and thereby be exposed at least briefly to their take on things first. The second development is more of an “active waiting” than a real development so far–rather like sitting around staring at an egg waiting for the chick to hatch. It’s what’s happening in the State House about public records access in Vermont. The issues involved are far from cut and dry, and there’s a Times Argus article from yesterday that does a good job of describing some of the difficulties involved in addressing the problems.

Somewhere along the line in the past year or so involving the public records issue, I remember reading that the Vermont Secretary of State’s Office was being considered as home for a new office that would serve as something of a clearing house and/or arbiter of when public records are really public. That’s one of the functions, however, that I think could be better fulfilled through a State Ombudsman Office.

As for the situation that gave rise to this blog dedicated to these issues, I’m still waiting—again.

Last but not least, on the matter of Marine bureaucrats having held up shipment of MRAP’s that would have saved the lives of hundreds of Americans in Iraq, Sen. Edward Kennedy has taken Gen. James Conway to the woodshed, figuratively speaking, about his misrepresenting (aka “lying about”) the urgent request in 2005 for MRAPs. In testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee last month Conway said the request had been for “armored Humvees.” Just never mind that the request referred to MRAPs 17 times, and didn’t mention Humvees once.

Transparency and accountability. Transparency and accountability. Transparency and accountability. And professional bureaucracy everywhere.

Peace.

Deborah Alicen