Plogress!

May 18, 2005 8:06 AM

Plogress.comis a new project to provide current information on what Senators and Representatives are currently doing in Congress. It consists of a separate blog--with feeds--for each US Senator and Representative, listing bills that he or she is sponsor of or cosponsor. Plans are in the works to add votes and committee activities.
posted by monju_bosatsu (20 comments total)

This would be cool if it could be cross-referenced against the various sources of gifts, funding and campaign contributions received by legislators.
posted by AlexReynolds at 8:09 AM on May 18, 2005

Neat idea, but is anyone else finding the css on this really screwed up?
I'm seeing:

[empty box] [sidebar]

[title/ content][empty sidebar]
posted by Kellydamnit at 8:26 AM on May 18, 2005

Great idea, but I think it could use links to the complete text of the legislative bills. Like, I see that my congress rep is co-sponsor of "H.R.1652: To establish certain duties for pharmacies when pharmacists employed by the pharmacies refuse to fill valid prescriptions for drugs or devices on the basis of personal beliefs, and for other purposes." - and I'd like to read more about that bill.
posted by dnash at 8:36 AM on May 18, 2005

[empty box] [sidebar]

[title/ content][empty sidebar]

Keep scrolling down. There's a lot of empty space.
posted by leftcoastbob at 8:39 AM on May 18, 2005

I think I prefer GovTrack.us, because it lets me set up custom watch lists and finds blogs that talk about pieces of legislation.
posted by revgeorge at 8:50 AM on May 18, 2005

plogress on plo chops?
posted by qDot at 9:01 AM on May 18, 2005

My rep, a true and total wingnut idiot, nevertheless has sponsored legislation I feel I could support:

Co-Sponsor of H.R.1980: To provide that pay for Members of Congress be reduced following any fiscal year in which there is a Federal deficit.

"Even a broken clock is right twice a day."
posted by ancientgower at 9:14 AM on May 18, 2005

Excellent idea. It's good to keep a tight short leash on these folks, although a shock-collar would be preferable.

Seriously, anything the 'Net can do to make the political process more apparent, transparent and trackable is great news. Now we just need to convince the apathetic 70% of America that you can't just elect politicians and trust them to do the right thing. "Representative democracy" is meaningless if you don't tell them HOW you want them to represent you.
posted by Shane at 9:16 AM on May 18, 2005

Excellent idea. The improvement suggestions here are also good.
posted by pmurray63 at 9:23 AM on May 18, 2005

ancientgower, That legislation has even less chance of passing than a broken clock has of being right. But it's a cute PR stunt.

Great site, monju. Thanks. I have already recommended it to my friends.
posted by Gordon Smith at 9:30 AM on May 18, 2005

I'm shocked. My representative, despite being a well known idiot has passed nothing but benign, dare I say, sensible sounding legislation.

I would like to see the small print.
posted by fshgrl at 9:59 AM on May 18, 2005

Great site--definitely needs crosslinking tho, and more bio info on everyone. I want to know what a Rep or Senator was doing before they got elected--exterminator, catkiller,... you know, the usual stuff. ; >

My Rep--Nadler--rocks--he's co-sponsored some excellent bills.
posted by amberglow at 10:20 AM on May 18, 2005

ahh--DeLay's page
What are these chemicals used for?

H.R.1903 - Referred to House committee. (2005-04-27)
April 27th, 2005

Sponsor of H.R.1903: To suspend temporarily the duty on phosphoric acid, lanthanum salt, cerium terbium-doped.

Posted in Legislation | No Comments »

H.R.1904 - Referred to House committee. (2005-04-27)
April 27th, 2005

Sponsor of H.R.1904: To suspend temporarily the duty on lutetium oxide.
posted by amberglow at 10:24 AM on May 18, 2005

What are these chemicals used for?

Abortion.
posted by iamck at 10:56 AM on May 18, 2005

amberglow, some of them at least are used in the manufacture of semiconductors and capacitors.
posted by substrate at 11:03 AM on May 18, 2005

lutetium oxide is used in the petrolium industry.
posted by substrate at 11:08 AM on May 18, 2005

ahh...and now the next question: how many golfing trips to Scotland and suitcases of cash did DeLay get for those 2 bills?
posted by amberglow at 11:19 AM on May 18, 2005

If you’re looking for legislation sponsored by individual Members of Congress, you can go right to the source. You can even combine the sponsor/cosponsor search with the other search options on the page. I hear the guy who answers email there is really cool, too.
posted by MrMoonPie at 12:00 PM on May 18, 2005

I love thomas.loc.gov. I wish it were easier to direct-link to things there, though — the expiring search result URLs are a pain.
posted by hattifattener at 9:20 PM on May 18, 2005

From what I hear, hattifattener, that's a priority of the group that's working on developing a new search engine for the site. Most documents on THOMAS can be direct linked now, but it takes some magic. You should write them if you want more info on that.
posted by MrMoonPie at 6:40 AM on May 19, 2005