Article: Take a Seat at Obama's Table

On change.gov Obama is inviting groups and citizens to sit at the transition tables discussion table. Thus far the following groups have presented impressive proposals to the President Elect.

Business Roundtable
Western Governors Associaiton
American Civil Liberties Union
The Green Group
21st Century Right to Know Project Report

I think it is worth your while to review some of these proposals and make a comment on them whether you disagree or not. Some of you have a lot you don't like about Obama and I believe this would be an ideal place to make yourself heard. You must admit this is an improvement from the last 8 years.

The following are excerpts from 21st Century Right to Know Project and the Western Governors Association:

Beyond using the inaugural address to signal a new era of openness in government, the president should immediately instruct his agency heads to actively and affirmatively disseminate information. He should also instruct his attorney general to provide guidance on FOIA that urges disclosing information where possible.

The president should launch a new initiative as soon as possible to provide searchable data about government integrity, including information about lobbyists and others who wield influence. At a minimum, the data should include who is getting federal funding (both direct and indirect spending such as tax breaks), how the money is being spent, who is lobbying for money from the executive branch, and who is working for the executive branch and where they go after service in government.
(21ST CENTURY RIGHT TO KNOW PROJECT REPORT pg. 15 of 112)

An enormous national commitment is necessary to transform our energy infrastructure and our economy as we shift to low-carbon-emission energy sources that include wind, solar, geothermal, biomass, hydro renewables, as well as fossil fuels with carbon capture and storage. We recognize that nuclear may be a part of the discussion of a national energy strategy. This letter does not speak to nuclear energy as WGA does not have relevant existing policy.Transforming our energy infrastructure and economy will requirenew policies, incentives, market mechanisms and private-publicpartnerships. Most important, it will require a bipartisan partnership thatachieves a broad consensus among political leaders and with the American people.

As a first step, we must promote more efficient use of energy in all of its forms. This includes: (1) manufacturing more fuel-efficient vehiclesand enhancing our public transportation systems, (2) wide-scale adoption of regulatory structures that reward those utilities achieving reduced energy usage among their customers, and (3) the design and manufacture of more energy efficient consumer goods.

The United States faces a very serious policy and technological challenge in increasing energy security, while simultaneously reducing greenhouse gas emissions and maintaining energy expenditures at a reasonable fraction of national GDP. The challenge must be met decisively with policies that represent the best environmental and economic interests of our nation.
(Western Governors Association , Page 1 of 4)