FreedomWorks  has created an anti-bailout petition that has reached over 30,000 signatures and will no doubt gain more momentum now that the bailout bill has failed. The extended time will allow citizens to continue sending emails to members of Congress and to gather more signatures for online petitions regarding the bailout bill.

The Emergency Economic Stabilization Bill of 2008 was first posted online prior to floor consideration on Sunday, September 28th by Speaker Pelosi and by the House Financial Services Committee.  Due to the enormous amount of public interest in the bill and a dramatic increase of email traffic, three to four times the normal rate, the House websites were slowed to a stand still; PublicMarkUp.org had to save the day by posting the entire bill online for the public to review and also allows users to comment on the entire bill or scrutinize specific clauses.   

In a continuing effort to promote legislative transparency and public commentary, the Sunlight Foundation created a petition to require that all legislation be posted for at least 72 hours before a vote, giving lawmakers and the public time to review it; due to the failure of the bill and complete chaos surrounding the House 's websites, we think they’re on to something. 

Will 72 hours online be delaying the inevitable passed bill or will citizen oversight change the direction of future legislation?

As Ellen Miller, executive director and co-founder of the Sunlight Foundation, said, “This isn’t a bill to rename a few courthouses; this bill is Congress’s biggest intervention in the economy in decades.  This important legislation deserves more time for public scrutiny.”

Both presidential candidates have not been silent on their views regarding the economic crisis.  Both parties released new economic ads that reached the Web this morning.