The co-creator of the government accountability Web site StimulusWatch.org has launched a new project intended to make federal rulemakings easier for the public to access and offer comment. Jerry Brito, a senior research fellow at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, recently unveiled OpenRegs.com, which takes the Federal Register's daily XML feed to new heights. Currently, the U.S. government's Regulations.gov allows citizens to find, review, and submit comments on federal documents but Brito and others believe the portal is not as dynamic and user friendly as it could be.

OpenRegs.com offers automated lists of comment periods closing soon across all agencies; recently opened comment periods; and recently published final regulations. Users are also be able to find regulations by agency and by topic as well as subscribe to alerts for particular issues of interest. Furthermore, the OpenRegs.com community is able to discuss certain regulations online and submit comments. Brito told Tech Daily Dose in an e-mail that the U.S. government has made some strides to modernize. Regulations.gov has launched a user-feedback section and officials have promised a design refresh later this summer.