Tester Seeks to Shine Light on Darkest Corners of Government Bureaucracy | Jon Tester | U.S. Senator for Montana

"U.S. Senator Jon Tester is shining more light on the federal government by increasing transparency of public records. 

Tester introduced the Public Online Information Act, which will make all public records from the Executive Branch permanently available on the Internet in a searchable database at no cost to constituents.

'All Montanans know we cannot hold folks accountable without sunshine, and in the 21st century we have no excuse not to be as transparent as possible,' Tester said.  'We need more sunshine in our government and this legislation will make it easier for Montanans to keep folks honest.'

Tester's bill, which covers all documents generated, updated, or released after the bill's enactment, would also establish an independent, bipartisan watchdog to issue guidelines for making public information accessible online.

Tester, a longtime government reform leader, introduced this bill during Sunshine Week—a national initiative to highlight government openness and transparency. 

His legislation was praised by open government advocacy group the Sunlight Foundation."