The Open Government Act of 2010 is a major reform measure of public accountability and transparency. It covers changes to the District's freedom of information, administrative procedure, lobbyist disclosure, and financial disclosure laws, and would require agencies to develop transparency plans. It would also establish a budget and spending transparency website.

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In October 2009, the Committee on Government Operations and the Environment heard testimony about the need for improved transparency in the District government. (Click here to view a webcast of that hearing). This legislation is a sweeping reform measure that would dramatically increase the transparency of the District Government.

Legislative Documents

• Introduced version of the Open Government Act (pdf)  (April 22, 2010)
• Press release announcing introduction of the bill (April 22, 2010)
• Councilmember Cheh's Remarks regarding the introduction of the Open Government Act (April 22, 2010)
• Hearing Notice for the Open Government Act (May 5, 2010)
• Revised version of the Open Government Act (June 4, 2010)
• Red-lined, revised version of the Open Government Act (June 4, 2010)
• View a Webcast of the Hearing

Testimony

• Salvatore Zambri, Trials Lawyers Association of Metropolitan Washington
• Fritz Mulhauser, American Civil Liberties Union of the Nation's Capital
• Carl Messineo, Partnership for Civil Justice Fund
• William McLain, Associate Professor of Law, UDC
• Roy Morris
• Elaine Mittleman
• Jenny Reed, DC Fiscal Policy Institute
• Thomas Susman, D.C. Open Government Coalition
• Robert S. Becker, Society of Professional Journalists
• Richard Wolf, Committee of 100 on the Federal City
• Jim McLaughlin, Washington Post
• Talibah Chikwendu, AFRO American Newspapers
• Stephen Block, American Civil Liberties Union of the Nation's Capital
• Mark Caramanica, Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press
• Rebecca Renner
• Peter Nickles, Office of the Attorney General

Additional Documents

• Letter from Peter Nickles to Chairman Vincent Gray (6-4-2010)
• Letter from Kris Baumann to Chairman Vincent Gray (6-10-2010)
• Response of the Open Government Coalition to Peter Nickles's testimony

Links related to Open Government

• DC Government pages
  • DC Government FOIA page
  • CFO Info
  • TrackDC
  • DCRegs
• DC Open Government Coalition

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On April 20, 2010, Councilmember Cheh introduced the National Popular Vote Interstate Agreement Act, which would end the current state-by-state “winner-takes-all” approach, and ensure that the presidential candidate who wins the popular vote in the 50 states and the District of Columbia would win the necessary electoral votes to become President. Identical legislation has been adopted in 5 states, and is being considered in 14 other states. To learn more about the National Popular Vote, visit http://www.nationalpopularvote.com.

Legislative Documents

• Memorandum circulated by Councilmember Cheh regarding the National Popular Vote Interstate Agreement Act. (April 12, 2010)
• The National Popular Vote Interstate Agreement Act, as introduced (April 20, 2010)
• Press Release on the Legislation (April 20, 2010)
• Hearing Notice for May 19, 2010 (May 5, 2010)

Procurement Reform Legislation. As the Chair of the Committee on Government Operations and the Environment, I have made it a priority to reform the contracting and procurement process. My committee has held several hearings on contracting reform initiatives, and has reviewed dozens of reports by procurement task forces, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), the Office of the Inspector General, the D.C Auditor. In addition, we have had extensive discussions on procurement with a variety of experts, including legal scholars, contracting and procurement professionals, members of the business community, labor leaders, officials in other jurisdictions, and several contracting associations.

The Energy Efficiency Financing Act. One of the biggest hurdles for energy efficiency projects in the District are the significant up-front costs. Recently, though, jurisdictions around the country have adopted a new program, called a Property Assessed Clean Energy ("PACE") loan program. The Energy Efficiency Financing Act of 2010 (for a copy of the introduced version of the bill, click here) would authorize the District to issue, sell, and deliver of up to $250 million of District of Columbia revenue bonds to finance low-interest loans to District property owners for the purpose of making energy efficiency and renewable energy improvements. The property owners who elect to participate in the program would repay the loans through an assessment on their property taxes.