2Day in #OpenGov 10/18/2012

by

NEWS ROUNDUP:

Government

  • SEC records mismanagement? A new report from the SECs Inspector General reveals that the agencies records management practices are in disorder. The agency disputed the finding, claiming that they had made improvements, including the appointment of their first archivist in 2007, that were not noted in the report. (Federal Computer Week)
  • GPO and Treasury team up: The US Government Printing Office is teaming up with the Treasury department for a pilot program that would put historic information from the Treasury Library on the GPO’s online document depository FDsys. (FDLP)
States
  • Wealthy individuals push policy in California: 11 initiatives are on the ballot in California this November. But, many of them are being pushed by wealthy individuals, a new trend. In the current era of campaign finance deregulation, the wealthy may increasingly be using tools that were originally intended to help common people exercise democratic power. (New York Times)
  • When it comes to transparency in Texas, bigger may be better: According to a new study, the largest cities in Texas are doing less to deny public records requests than many of their medium sized suburbs. The worst offender was McKinney, a Dallas suburb, which tried to deny more than 300 public records requests per 100,000 citizens. Several other Dallas suburbs were high on the list of offenders. (Public Integrity)
International
  • Taking transparency to the radio: Acknowledging the fact that only 13% of Africans use the internet, Transparency International employs a variety of means to educate citizens about corruption. This summer, TI Madagascar took to the radio waves to answer questions and spread information about corruption. (Transparency International)
  • Italy anti-corruption law: Italy, where corruption siphons an estimated $78 billion a year out of public coffers, is moving closer to passing a long awaited anti-corruption law. Italy’s senate passed the legislation amid numerous government corruption scandals and six months ahead of national elections. It now awaits passage by their lower house. (Trust Law)

RELEVANT BILLS INTRODUCED:

  • None

HAPPENING TODAY 10/18

JOB OPPORTUNITIES:

  • None. 

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