2016 is a year for more transparency in government

Transparency in government is essential to upholding American democracy.

When people have access to information about local and federal administrations, politicians are held accountable.

The public is educated and engaged, and our nation is strengthened.

It is popular to pledge honest and open leadership while on the campaign trail, but America does not have the best track record in keeping these promises.

In fact, Pew research finds that just 5 percent of Americans believe the government is doing a good job of sharing key information.

Public access to information is vital in preserving the values upon which our nation was founded.

It is also crucial in enabling journalists to fulfill their role as the watchdogs of society.

While journalists and others can personally obtain public records through the Freedom of Information Act system, the process is outdated and inefficient.

Congress is considering legislation that would update the Freedom of Information Act in time for its 50th anniversary later this year.

The FOIA Improvement Act of 2015 (S. 337) was passed unanimously by the Senate on Monday. It takes a number of important steps to reduce the expense and time required to access key information.

The bill was introduced last year by Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and co-sponsored by Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., and Sen Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa.

The bill would write into law the existing presumption of openness rule (agencies can only withhold information if the disclosure would cause specific harm), aims to make requests more efficient by modernizing technology tools and limits the ability of agencies to keep internal deliberations that are more than 25 years old confidential, among other improvements.

This legislation matters because access to government records often results in real change.

The Flint water crisis was first uncovered when researchers at Virginia Tech University requested and researched public information.

Our national conversation around veterans’ timely receipt of benefits was likewise sparked by a close study of government documents obtained through the FOIA process.

If the legislation is passed, these missteps can be exposed quicker and amended faster.

It is the media’s job to shine a light — but we will continue to remain in darkness for too long unless these improvements are enacted.

There remains much to be done to instill public confidence and ensure that those in power are being held responsible for their actions.

Amending this act and streamlining the processes by which the public can access government information is an important start.

The stakes are especially high in an election year, when candidates hold a variety of positions about political openness.

But whoever the next leader of the free world is, they must understand their responsibility to remain transparent.

They have a duty to the American people that cannot be taken lightly.

It is free, nationwide access to information that keeps Americans educated and ensures that our government is transparent.

Because this week has been designated as “Sunshine Week,” an annual national initiative that encourages openness in government and the free flow of information to the public, it is worth reflecting on the role information plays in strengthening our democracy.

America can only be a strong nation when its people are engaged and informed.

This story was originally published March 16, 2016 at 5:49 PM with the headline "2016 is a year for more transparency in government."