Senate Moves To Adopt XML Format

Senate Rules Committee Chairman Charles Schumer (D-NY) and ranking member Bob Bennett (R-UT) took a large but simple step this week toward modernizing the way the chamber provides information about roll call votes by instructing the Secretary of the Senate to embrace XML format. The change will allow the public to use computers to search, sort, and visualize Senate voting records in new ways and the costs associated with the transition are minor, said Sen Jim DeMint (R-SC), who has championed the effort. By moving forward on XML, Sens Schumer and Bennett are helping to increase Senate transparency and accountability, Sen DeMint said