2Day in #OpenGov 6/20/2012

by

NEWS ROUNDUP

State/Local

  • Campaign contributions subject of Maryland commission meetings: A Maryland meeting reached a consensus on (but took no formal vote for) raising the state’s limit on campaign contributions, which has been the same for almost two decades. (Lobby Comply Blog)
  • Open data coming to WI capital: Expected to be approved by the mayor later this summer, an ordinance that would publish data sets from Madison, Wis., in a developer-friendly way has gained popularity in the city. Useful civic applications have already been created using existing data, but this act aims to streamline the process of getting the information. (Government Technology)
  • Individual contribution limit raised in NJ: The New Jersey Election Law Commission has voted to raise the amount of money an individual can spend on gubernatorial (and other) state elections. The commission has also raised the amount of public funding candidates can use in their campaigns. (Lobby Comply Blog)

International

  • EU gives up on document access reform: After six months of negotiations, the Danish Presidency of the Council of the European Union has abandoned the reform of its document access laws given the differences of opinion between the European Parliament (who supports more access), the European Commission (who supports more restricted access), and the Member States (who are divided on the issue). (Open Knowledge Foundation Blog)
  • House committee: Fight UN Internet regulation efforts: In opposition to a United Nations proposal to give its International Telecommunications Union more power in restricting the Internet, the House Energy and Commerce Committee approved a resolution that pressures the White House to fight this measure. (The Hill)

Disclosure

  • Obama’s lawyer to FEC: Crossroads GPS should disclose donors: Criticizing the group’s classification as a “social welfare” organization as opposed to a “political committee,” Robert Bauer, a lawyer who represents the President’s election campaign, demanded that Crossroads GPS disclose its donors, which it does not have to do under its current classification. (New York Times)
  • FCC disclosure regulation no longer to be blocked by House GOP: Republican congressmen have backed down from arguing that an FCC regulation requiring television networks to post campaign ad buyers online would be too costly, a position currently championed by the National Association of Broadcasters. (The Hill)
  • STOCK Act provision risky, says SEA: Because public access to the financial disclosure forms of senior federal officials has become easier under the STOCK Act, the Senior Executive Association has argued that this provision could leave these employees more vulnerable to identity thieves and frivolous lawsuits–as well as to kidnapping when travelling abroad. (Washington Post)
  • To GOP senators, IRS donor identity request out of line: The increased scrutiny the Internal Revenue Service is supposedly putting on politically active nonprofits has angered a number of Republican senators, who in a letter written to the IRS commissioner, have expressed their concern for donors if the organizations they donated to were to comply with IRS requests to disclose their identities. (Roll Call)

RELEVANT BILLS INTRODUCED

  • None.

HAPPENING TODAY 6/20

  • Open Source Summit: Wed. 6/20 – Thurs. 6/21. 9:00 a.m – 5:00 p.m. Van Munching Hall: University of Maryland Business School. 7621 Mowatt Lane, College Park, Maryland.

SCHEDULED TOMORROW 6/21

  • Open Source Summit: Wed. 6/20 – Thurs. 6/21. 9:00 a.m – 5:00 p.m. Van Munching Hall: University of Maryland Business School. 7621 Mowatt Lane, College Park, Maryland.
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