All Things Reform: New congressional earmarks database from LegiStorm

Thursday, November 20, 2008

New congressional earmarks database from LegiStorm

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From: LegiStorm

LegiStorm launches earmarks database

We are proud to launch the latest free LegiStorm resource, a free searchable database to track the explosive growth of legislative earmarks.

The earmarks database builds on other LegiStorm data so users can find important connections between otherwise unconnected facts, such as between earmarks and the corporate-sponsored travel or personal financial holdings of members of Congress and their staff.

"Earmarks have been at the center of several congressional scandals in the past few years, and openness in the process can help combat potential abuses of the earmark system," said Jock Friedly, a former Capitol Hill investigative reporter who is the founder and president of LegiStorm. "LegiStorm is proud to integrate earmarks data with our other data sets in order to bring deeper insight and increased transparency to congressional and executive spending."

LegiStorm's official press release is available here.

>All Things Reform Mobile: allthingsreform.mofuse.mobi >Capitol Switchboard: 202-224-3121 (not toll-free) >US House/Senate Mobile: bit.ly/members >Contact your reps tips: bit.ly/dear >Shortened All Things Reform URL: bit.ly/dw

"Civic engagement"

> Civic engagement is comprised of individual and collective efforts or processes designed to identify and address community needs and issues of public concern. In a democracy, all segments of the community – businesses, nonprofits, government agencies, and individual residents -- can and should be involved in civic engagement activities.

> Civic engagement can take many forms, from individual volunteerism to organizational involvement to electoral participation. It may involve individual action or group processes that result in positive community change and decision making that is more reflective of community needs and desires.

> Taking responsibility for one’s own actions within the community and working to build an awareness of systematic positive change through activities such as directly addressing an issue, working with others in a community to identify and solve problems, interacting with -- and influencing – public and private decision makers, and developing skills through training and workshops that foster strong leadership are all examples of how one can become more civically engaged.

Source: http://nfw.allianceinfo.org/content/community-challenge

How to write your representatives

> Write legibly and use the proper form of address: ** Letters to Senators: your name, address & zip code; Honorable (full name), United States Senate, Washington, DC 20510; Dear Senator (last name): (body of letter) Sincerely yours, ** Letters to Representatives: your name, address & full zip code; Honorable (full name), House of Representatives, Washington, DC 20515; Dear (Mr. or Ms.) (last name): (body of letter) Sincerely yours,

> Write a short letter- be brief, up to one page- try to limit letter to just one issue or bill; attach an editorial or other articles, but only one or two pages if possible

> Give bill number when possible; explain with reasons why the bill's important to you, their constituent. Be appreciative; you might politely send them another letter after their vote

> Be courteous, and respect his/her office staff- who read the letters- even if you didn't vote for him. Be constructive, but don't use technical jargon or acronyms; an easy to understand, original letter by a constituent is far more effective than a signed sample letter

> Write neatly, or use their official website's contact form; thank them for their consideration, and leave your telephone number if you want to be available for questions. An additional phone call and a visit are helpful. You may request a reply in return

> Be timely- don't send letter months in advance- they might forget; if they vote very soon, call their office or Capitol Switchboard; don't fax- they don't read them; snail mail is safest, but there's a 30-day delay in delivery in Washington DC

> Call Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121 for convenience; number is not toll-free

> Committee Caller- Call all members of any congressional committee at one time-http://is.gd/HhE

All Things Reform

Thursday, November 20, 2008

New congressional earmarks database from LegiStorm

Civic Engagement Topics

"Civic engagement"

Activism Tools

How to write your representatives

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