2Day in #OpenGov 3/26/2012

by

Policy Fellow Matt Rumsey wrote this post.

Here is the week’s first look at transparency-related news items, congressional committee hearings, transparency-related bills introduced in Congress, and transparency-related events.

News Roundup:

Campaign Finance

  • Despite Democratic fears that super PACs could help the eventual Republican presidential candidate far outspend supporters of President Obama’s reelection, the President and his allies currently hold a significant cash advantage over Mitt Romney and his backers. (Washington Post)
  • Congressional candidate Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) might be rethinking the position that she took on an anti-super PAC pledge. She rejected super PACs in her primary race, but left he door open to supporting an outside group organizing to defeat Rep. Joe Walsh (R-IL), her district’s Republican nominee. (Politico)
  • More than 60 of President Obama’s biggest financial supporters visited the White House more than once. This seems to be a reversal from policy earlier in the President’s tenure when donors claimed to be kept at arms length from the White House. (National Journal)

Government

  • A House Subcommittee looks likely to vote in favor of the Global Online Freedom Act. The bill aims to prevent U.S. companies from helping foreign nations limit internet freedom. (The Hill)
  • A House Oversight and Government Reform subcommittee was supportive of the new FOIA portal being developed by the EPA, NARA, and Department of Commerce at a hearing last week. (POGO)

Lobbying

  • Despite more restrictive revolving door rules imposed by the Obama administration, several executive branch officials have left for lobbying jobs in recent months. (Roll Call $)
  • Technology companies have recruited tech savvy hill aides to staff their lobbying operations in Washington. (Politico)

Relevant committee hearings scheduled for 3/26-3/30:

House:

  • Budget Hearing: U.S. House of Representatives. Appropriations. Tues. 3/27. 10:00 am. HT-2 Capitol. Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch.
  • Budget Hearing: General Services Administration. Appropriations. Tues. 3/27. 10:00 am. 2362A RHOB. Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government.
  • Markup: H.R. 3862, Sunshine for Regulatory Decrees and Settlements Act of 2012 and others. Judiciary. Tues. 3/27. 10:00 am. 2141 RHOB. Full Committee.
  • How NOAA Procures Data for Weather Forecasting. Science, Space, and Technology. Wed. 3/28. 2:00 pm. 2318 RHOB. Subcommittee on Energy and the Environment.
  • Federally Funded Research: examining public access and scholarly publication interests. Science, Space, and Technology. Thurs. 3/29. 10:00 am. 2318 RHOB.
Senate:
  • Assessing efforts to combat waste and fraud in Federal programs. Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Wed. 3/28. 2:30 pm. 342 DSOB. Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, Federal Services, and International Security.
  • 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. Rules and Administration. Thurs. 3/29. 10:00 am. 301 RSOB. Full Committee

Relevant bills introduced:

  • S.2219. DISCLOSE Act of 2012. Referred to the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration.
Transparency events scheduled for 3/26-3/30:

Do you want to track transparency news? You can add our feed to your Google Reader, or view it on our Netvibes page.