Last year saw clear and important accomplishments in government transparency in several areas, such as improved whistleblower protections and progress on the numerous open government commitments made under the Open Government Partnership. There was, however, a missed opportunity for U.S. leadership at the Rio+20 environmental summit. We are also concerned that undue industry influence in certain regulatory arenas may be reducing public access to information. And state laws on fracking chemical disclosure often allow exemptions that are so broad as to undermine the laws. Nonetheless, at the federal level, 2012 was a year of continuing progress for open government.

With two weeks left before the end of the year, Congress and President Obama still appear far apart on a possible agreement to avert a pending "fiscal cliff" of tax increases and across-the-board spending cuts that will begin to phase in starting in January if no agreement is reached. Despite the hype, the sky will not fall if no agreement is reached by Jan. 1. The administration has significant authority to delay the effects of both the spending cuts and tax increases for several weeks if necessary. The administration has significant authority to delay the effects of both the spending cuts and tax increases for several weeks if necessary.