OPEN MEETINGS, CALENDARS AND VISITOR LOGS
Government belongs to the people — and that means the people have a right to know who their leaders meet with, when decisions are made, and what those meetings are about. Transparency in scheduling and access is the simplest, most powerful way to rebuild public trust.
THE PROBLEM
Congressional offices and federal agencies often keep meetings and visitor logs hidden, even when they involve lobbyists and major donors.
Calendars are often redacted or delayed until long after key decisions are made, leaving citizens in the dark.
The public cannot easily see who is influencing policy, how frequently special interests get access, or whether ordinary people ever do.
Even local governments frequently ignore or evade open-meeting laws, conducting business behind closed doors or in private chats.
When democracy hides its schedule, corruption keeps the appointment.
OUR PLAN - SUNSHINE ON EVERY MEETING
We’ll make openness the default — not the exception:
Mandatory Public Calendars — Require all members of Congress, senior staff, and agency heads to publish official schedules weekly, including meetings, hearings, and travel funded by taxpayers.
Universal Visitor Log System — Create a single, searchable federal database listing all visitors to public buildings and offices, including lobbyists and contractors.
Lobbyist & Donor Tagging — Meetings with registered lobbyists, donors, or corporate representatives must be clearly marked and publicly disclosed within 48 hours.
Public Meeting Livestreams & Archives — All committee hearings, agency rulemakings, and advisory meetings recorded and archived for public viewing.
Local Transparency Standards — Federal grants to state and local governments contingent on basic public-access compliance — if taxpayers fund it, taxpayers can watch it.
Plain-Language Summaries — Agencies must post short, readable summaries of meetings and decisions for citizens, not just lawyers.
WHY THIS MATTERS
Sunlight doesn’t just expose corruption — it prevents it. When leaders know their schedules, meetings, and decisions are visible to the people, they’re more likely to act in the people’s interest.
Transparency isn’t a nuisance — it’s democracy’s disinfectant.
“If you work for the public, your calendar should be public too.”