Last night, The OpenGov Foundation held our inaugural Door Stop awards to honor the incredible work of those inside Congress to improve long-term transparency. More than a hundred people gathered at the CTA Innovation House on Capitol Hill to toast the achievements of the first class of winners. Members of Congress, congressional staffers, civic advocates, entrepreneurs and more came together for an evening celebrating improved public access to the legislative branch.
Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., emceed the ceremony and shared the accomplishments of each recipient. The awards, which are functional door stops, were created to lift up and recognize those who have diligently worked without credit to not only innovate in their time, but to keep the doors wide open to long-term, structural change within Congress.
The annual awards recognize at least least one Republican and one Democrat Member or former Member and one Republican and one Democrat staffer. While these change-agents have contributed in different ways, their common attributes are two-fold. First, each has driven structural improvements, innovations and an openness that lasts, creatively using technology, information and a deep knowledge of Congressional systems. And second, each Door Stop Award Winner has kept the doors of the legislative branch open from within an incredibly challenging environment.
Speaker John Boehner
Mr. Boehner represented Ohio in the U.S. House of Representatives starting in 1991 and was speaker from 2011 to 2015. He expanded the use of live video on the House floor and in committee hearings, pushed for legislative data to be posted online in XML and bulk data formats and much more.
Majority Leader Eric Cantor
Mr. Cantor represented Virginia starting in 2001 and was the Majority Leader from 2011 to 2014. He worked diligently in leadership to involve more citizens in the legislative process and standardize the data coming out of Congress. He began the practice of publishing House Floor scheduling information in structured data formats, supported efforts to record and live stream House committee proceedings and pushed for new legislative data standards.
House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer
Mr. Hoyer has represented Maryland since 1981 and served as the Democratic Whip since 2011. He has lead the charge to open congressional data through active participation in the House’s Bulk Data Task Force, hosting both Congressional Hackathons, producing apps such as the Whip Watch and much more.
Jo-Marie St. Martin
Ms. St. Martin served as general counsel and director of legislative operations for Speaker Boehner. She was instrumental in improving transparency in the legislative process including a drive to post bill language online for three days before it would be considered on the floor and to open up Republican conference rules.
Karina Newton
Ms. Newton worked in Congress from 2000-2012 serving as senior advisor and director of new media for Nancy Pelosi. During her tenure, she shepherded increased online disclosure including posting lobbying disclosure forms, member expenses and bill text online and drove an update to the franking manual that enabled members to use social media tools like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Congressman Jared Polis
Mr. Polis has served in the U.S. House representing Colorado since 2009 and is one of the few successful tech entrepreneurs in Congress. He brought that spirit into the institution, protecting internet freedom and co-chairing both the Congressional Open Source Technology Caucus and the Caucus on Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
The Congressional Open Source Technology Caucus was the evening’s honorary co-chair and it would not have been such a success without the many supporters and co-hosts! Thank you to Google, Yelp, Netflix, Democracy Fund, Data Foundation, R Street Institute, Sunlight Foundation, Congressional Management Foundation, TechCongress, Shuttleworth Foundation, Congressional Data Coalition, Demand Progress, Consumer Technology Association, GovTrack.us and Capitol Bells!
Nicko Margolies is the Communications Director of The OpenGov Foundation.
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