As part of Sunshine Week 2008, POGO will be co-hosting a panel discussion on “Government Secrecy: Censoring Your Right to Know,” moderated by OpenTheGovernment.org.  The discussion will address issues such as executive branch power and secrecy, congressional rights and responsibilities, and the role of the public and non-profit sector.  Confirmed speakers on the first panel of the event include:

·         Patrice McDermott (moderator), Director of OpenTheGovernment.org;

·         Ann Beeson, Director of U.S. Programs at the Open Society Institute and former Associate Legal Director of the American Civil Liberties Union;

·         Mickey Edwards, Director of the Aspen Institute-Rodel Fellowships in Public Leadership and former member of Congress; and

·         John Podesta, President and CEO of the Center for American Congress and former Chief of Staff to President Clinton

The second panel will feature a number of experts from organizations that are using the web to keep the public better informed of the government’s activities, including:

• Greg Elin (moderator), Sunlight labs and research software developer specializing in databases and interactive technologies;
• Bill Allison, Sunlight Foundation;
• Sheila Krumholz, Center for Responsive Politics/OpenSecrets.org;
• David Moore, OpenCongress.org;
• Sean Moulton, FedSpending.org;
• Daniel X. O’Neil, EveryBlock; and
• Gary Bass, Executive Director of OMB Watch

The event will take place on March 19^th from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. at the National Press Club in Washington , D.C.   It will also be broadcast via satellite link at a number of registered sites around the country.

Click here to see a list of the registered sites that will be broadcasting the event.  Or click here to download a registration form to sign up for a free webcast.  Simply complete the form and email it to cgreen@openthegovernment.org.  You will then receive instructions on how to view the webcast.  The deadline for registration is March 18^th. 

Founded in 1981, the Project On Government Oversight (POGO) is an independent nonprofit that investigates and exposes corruption in order to achieve a more accountable federal government.