Washington, D.C.-   Today, Congressman Brian Baird (D-WA-03) was honored for his commitment to transparency in government by the nonpartisan Sunlight Foundation.  Baird and Congressman John Culberson (R-TX-7) were both presented with the Sunlight on the Hill Award for legislative action highlighting their commitment to passing Baird's 72 hour rule.  When passed, it would give lawmakers, the public, and the media 72 hours to read legislation prior to any vote.  Fittingly, the award is printed on a transparency.  Click here to see a picture of Congressman Baird receiving his award.

"People should know what's in legislation before it becomes law, not after," said Congressman Baird. "The more important the bill, the more complicated it is, and the more money it spends, the less time anyone is given to review it.  That is simply wrong.  Both parties have been guilty, and it's time to pass my bipartisan seventy-two hour rule that will fix this problem once and for all.

Congressman Baird's legislation (H. Res. 554) currently has 187 cosponsors.  In September, Congressman Baird joined with Oregon Congressman Greg Walden to launch a discharge petition that would force a vote on the resolution.  That petition currently has been signed by 182 Members of Congress. 

"Congressman Baird and Congressman Culberson are transparency trailblazers who are setting the standard for legislative transparency in the 21st century- recognizing that legislation is not truly public unless it is online," said Ellen Miller, executive director and co-founder of the Sunlight Foundation. "This resolution has bipartisan support in the House, but even more significantly, it has received the endorsement of tens of thousands of Americans who have signed Sunlight's petition at readthebill.org showing broad public support for this transparency measure."

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