The OpenGov Foundation has proposed a “Congressional Digital Service” not unlike the White House’s United States Digital Service (USDS), which is already hard at work modernizing government agency websites and technology.
Although Kraft is quick to point out that the current situation is no one’s fault in particular, he says House Speaker Paul Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell could take strides towards solving the problem by spending a relatively small amount. But improving the way the public and Congress interact has never really become enough of a high-profile issue for congressional leaders to risk the political capital needed to make changes.
So what can you do? Should you call your representatives, tell them to give their staffers a raise, and make upgrading their technology a priority? Email a form letter to your senator? The OpenGov Foundation's solution is a more blunt: If your representative doesn’t support upgrading Congress’s technological infrastructure, you should just vote for another candidate.
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