Open government has yet to arrive in some quarters of the US Capitol, where backroom deals are still the rule on many matters. But House members vowing transparency have taken a step forward with a new "Online Publication Standard."

It was unanimously adopted by the Committee on House Administration.

It remains to be seen how successful the House will be in timely posting of electronic versions of bills — especially when they are thousand-page appropriations bills being rammed through at the last minute. The WatchDog will be watching to see if appropriations bills are published electronically well before subcommittee markups begin.

• "House To Be More Open: OKs Online Publication Standard," [2] Sunlight Foundation, December 16, 2011, by Daniel Schuman.
• House Online Publication Standard. [3]