Reflecting his support for a more open federal government, U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO-9) has joined a bipartisan Transparency Caucus which will serve as a resource for Members of Congress on bipartisan open government initiatives. The caucus will promote legislation that requires federal information to be freely accessible, as well as advocate for new initiatives that support transparency.

“I strongly believe that open government is not a partisan issue, and that the American people have a right to expect their government to operate in an open and transparent manner,” Luetkemeyer said. “This new caucus will promote a culture of openness and bipartisan co-operation that can bring real change to how our government operates, and give hard-working Americans a clearer look into how their taxpayer dollars are used.”

With significant advances in technology, it is now possible for the federal government to offer searchable, sortable, downloadable information online that citizens can access to see for themselves the results of government programs. The caucus will seek to move current practices forward and encourage easier access for the American public through education, legislation, and oversight.

Additionally, the caucus will work to monitor the enforcement of federal laws and directives already in place that promote transparency. Of particular focus will be President Obama’s Open Government Directive, which requires agencies to make their data sets available online and sets standards for transparency in government.