This campaign was the 1st official policy issue brought forth through Twitter. Individuals supporting the campaign were asked to tweet:
“Congress, change the rules. Talk to us on our social networks. http://letourcongresstweet.org/ Let Our Congress Tweet! #LOCT08.”
The campaign with links to media coverage can be found here. In response, the Sunlight Foundation has created @CAPITOLTWEETS has been created for those who want to receive tweets sent out by members of Congress. This allows interested individuals can get a @CAPITOLTWEETS widget to include on their blog or Web site if desired that updates every 10 minutes with tweets from Congress members.
The rulings official wording is and can be found on Speaker Pelosi’s blog:
In addition to their official (house.gov) Web site, a Member may maintain another Web site(s), channel(s) or otherwise post material on third-party Web sites. (more…)
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Related, in June, I compiled a list of ALL government Twitter accounts available. This post has been very popular, and many more have since been a) suggested and b) created. Thus, here is the update, beginning with none other than….Congress members who Twitter. Colleague @ariherzog also maintains the Government page on the Twitter fan wiki for future updates. Enjoy!
Even U.S. President George Bush sent out his 1st Twitter with the help of Sen. John Culberson when Sen. Culberson was showing the President both Twitter and Qik. You can see it here!
Government Agencies
For government agencies, most often, the Twitter account is in conjunction with the government’s related blog. So, now, we’re getting government agencies who are not only blogging, but using TwitterFeed to promote the posts through Twitter. I am still rounding up info. to find government accounts on Jaiku and/FriendFeed.
@dipnote – The U.S. Department of State
@govgab – USA.gov, component of their blog, GovGab
@greenversations – The Environmental Protection Agency
@TSABlogTeam – Transportation Security Administration, Based on TSA’s Evolution of Security Blog
@USAgov – USA.gov
@GobiernoUSA – USA.gov’s Spanish Portal
@womenshealth – Womenshealth.gov
@NASA – Well, it’s NASA =) Check out NASA’s Twitter box and find various other NASA Twitter feeds about certain missions including @MarsPhoenix, @nasacolab, and 13 other NASA related feeds!
Government Officials
@BarackObama – Barack OBama
@joebiden – Sen. Joe Biden
@JimDeMint – Sen. Jim DeMint
@SenatorDodd – Sen. Chris Dodd
@ChuckGrassley – Sen. Chuck Grassley (Iowa)
@frankwatson – Sen. Frank Watson
@jiminhofe – Sen. Jim Inhofe (Oklahoma)
@johnculberson – Congressman John Culberson
@MarkUdall – Congressman Mark Udall (Colorado) On his website, he is even implementing his own mini-social network for citizens to join, blog and join county groups!
@TomLatham – Congressman Tom Latham (Iowa)
@neilabercrombie – Congressman Neil Abercrombie (Hawaii)
@ThadMcCotter – Congressman Thad McCotter (Michigan)
@CongJoeWilson – Congressman Joe Wilson
@schwarzenegger – California Gov. Arnold Schwarsenegger
@GovernorGibbons – Nevada Gov. Jim Gibbons
@govgranholm – Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm
@johncherry – Michigan Lieutenant Gov. John Cherry
@PeterKinder – Missouri Lieutenant Gov. Peter Kinder
U.S. States
@coloradogov – Colorado Government
@kygov – Kentucky Government
@vermontgov – Vermont Government
@UtahGov – Utah Government
@SCGOV – South Carolina Government
@www_maine_gov – Maine Government
@rigov – Rhode Island Government
Other
@TheWhiteHouse – The White House
@HouseFloor – U.S. House of Representatives
@SenateFloor – The U.S. Senate
@NRSC – National Republican Senatorial Committee
@secgen – The U.N. Secretary General
If I missed any, please let me know and I’ll add them to the list!
Ok, what are your thoughts? Is this a good thing? What does this mean, and how will it affect or impact constituent and government relations? LOVE to hear, =)
photo cred: Flickr, vagabondrhythm
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