Today in #OpenGov 4/17/2014

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Keep reading for today’s look at #OpenGov news, events and analysis including e-filing on tax day, anti-corruption in Armenia, and public officials’ public records.series-opengov-today

National News

  • A new study from CREW found that companies that voluntarily disclose their political spending don’t always do a particularly good job. (Roll Call)
  • Many Americans electronically file their taxes, but only 21 Senators electronically filed their campaign finance reports. Senator Jon Tester (D-MT) is pushing to require all Senators to e-file, which could save $500,000. (Public Integrity)
  • The Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs updated its meetings database, making it easier to search through information about meetings with non-government officials. So far, the update only applies to recent meetings. (Center for Effective Government)
  • Dave Camp (R-MI), the retiring chairman of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, could be looking at a plum spot on K Street if he decides to move across town after he leaves office. (The Hill)

International News

  • Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe, himself not known as a paragon of good governance, lashed out at Nigeria for perceived corruption in that country recently. (Global Voices)
  • A growing government watchdog in Armenia is approaching its anti-corruption work with a variety of high and low tech tools. (Open Society Foundations)

State and Local News

  • Louisville is planning to add more than 90 new datasets to its website in the coming days and another 173 in the future. The moves comes after a report, requested by Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer, found that the city has 414 datasets. (Louisville Courier-Journal)
  • Opinion: A recent court decision that exempted public business conducted on private devices from California Public Records Act lacks common sense. “When public officials conduct public business, their constituents get to watch, regardless of the platform.” (Los Angeles Times)

Events Today

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