Congressional Web Sites Called 'Disappointing'

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http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,129360/article.html

Congressional Web Sites Called 'Disappointing'

Many members' sites lack basic information, according to a report evaluating Congressional effectiveness.

Grant Gross, IDG News Service

Monday, February 26, 2007 09:00 AM PST

Many of the Web sites for members of the U.S. Congress lack basic information such as information on office hours or where to go if the reader has problems with a federal agency, according to a report released Monday.

The overall state of congressional Web sites is "disappointing," said the Congressional Management Foundation, a nonprofit group advocating for a more effective Congress. The group gave only about 14 percent of the 615 lawmaker and congressional leadership Web sites it surveyed A grades for user friendliness. The top group of A-graded sites earn CMF's Gold Mouse award.

Thirteen percent of the congressional sites received F grades, and another 25 percent received D's.

"It's things that are missing, things that aren't updated," said Beverly Bell, CMF's executive director. In many cases, congressional offices seem to see Web sites as one-way communication mediums, she said.

About 49 percent of the sites did not include sufficient information on how to contact the office about a problem with a federal agency, CMF said in its report. Just over 26 percent told visitors the best way to communicate with their offices, and 32 percent did not include links to sponsored or cosponsored legislation.

Just 11 percent of House Web sites and 5 percent of Senate Web sites posted their office hours.

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