NEWS ROUNDUP

International

• UN supports Internet freedom: In a shift from its proposed—and highly opposed—plan to increase the power of its International Telecommunications Union, the United Nations has backed a resolution stating that citizens have the same rights online as they do offline. (The Hill)

State/Local

• Baltimore County lobbyists can no longer give sports tickets: In order to comply with state ethics law, Baltimore County, Maryland, has banned lobbyists from giving sports tickets to legislatures, which, given the number of sports teams in the area, must have been a popular practice. (Lobby Comply Blog)
• How to use your city’s open data: Code for America has created a set of guidelines for developers looking to use their cities’ data sets to provide easy-to-read information to citizens. (Code for America)

Disclosure

• Former ISOO director now fights for less government classification: J. William Leonard, the former director of the Information Security Oversight Office, is now looking for the government to release documents relating to the Thomas Drake case. Leonard sees the withholding of these documents in the name of national security as an action that cheapens the classification. (Project on Government Oversight)
• Opinion: Demand disclosure in campaign finance: The editorial board of USA Today argued against the “social welfare” groups that make contributions and raise money without disclosure, saying that disclosure is currently the only weapon we have left to fight the significant power of these groups. (USA Today)
• Opinion: Disclosure can be used as a weapon: Senator Mitch McConnell, arguing in favor of the First Amendment, claimed that the “selective disclosure” outlined in the DISCLOSE Act could be used as a political tool to threaten and silence free speech. (USA Today)

RELEVANT BILLS INTRODUCED

• None.

HAPPENING TODAY 7/6

• None.

SCHEDULED THIS WEEKEND

• None.

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