2Day in #OpenGov 3/29/2012

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NEWS ROUNDUP

Campaign Finance

  • Undergrads for unlimited donations: A group of Duke University undergraduate students started their own super PAC for a class project. Americans for a Better Tomorrow, Yesterday was created to highlight “the absurdity of the process”, according to one of its founders. (The Hill)
  • Candidates stick to super PAC pledge? The attempt by Massachusetts Senate candidates Scott Brown (R) and Elizabeth Warren (D) to discourage independent attack ads might be working. This week, Brown announced he would pay the agreed upon penalty after the American Petroleum Institute ran ads on his behalf. (Washington Post)
  • Gingrich losing his allowance? Sheldon Adelson, the primary donor to the pro-Gingrich super PAC Winning our Future, appears ready to cut off his support. Adelson speculated that Gingrich “appears as though he’s at the end of his…line” at an event on Wednesday.” (The Hill)

Government

  • Door revolves to public interest group: Former FCC Commissioner Michael Copps joined the board of Public Knowledge, a public interest group focused on telecommunications and media issues. (National Journal)
  • Big bucks for big data: The Obama Administration is committing more than $200 million to a “Big Data Research and Development Initiative” focused on building technology to collect and use data. (Gov Fresh)

International

  • EU seeks open gov feedback: The European Parliament posted a draft of its open government declaration online and is seeking citizen comment. (Gov Fresh)
  • The Glass is fully transparent: El Vaso, a new blog from Chilean transparency group Ciudadano Inteligente, highlights technology and government transparency. (Global Voices)

RELEVANT BILLS INTRODUCED

  • None.

HAPPENING AROUND TOWN, 3/29

Hearings:

  • Federally Funded Research: examining public access and scholarly publication interests. House Science, Space, and Technology. 10:00 am. 2318 RHOB.
  • Hearing to examine S.2219, to amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to provide for additional disclosure requirements for corporations, labor organizations, Super PACs and other entities. Senate Rules and Administration. 10:00 am. 301 RSOB. Full Committee
Events:
SCHEDULED FOR TOMORROW, 3/30

Policy Fellow Matt Rumsey wrote this post.

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