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

News Roundup:

• The government has been without a budget for 177 days, the longest period of time in 14 years. (Washington Post)
• With the earmark ban in place, K Street appropriations lobbyists are not having a traditional spring characterized by submitting numerous Congressional earmark request forms. (Roll Call $)
• Montana has passed legislation simplifying the requirement for political committees supporting state district candidates or issues to report campaign contributions of $100 or more. (Lobby Comply Blog)
• Small K Street firms are benefiting through hiring talented lobbyists who are willing to take a pay cut in exchange for more work-life balance than the traditional K Street firm allows. (Roll Call $)
• The Supreme Court will hear a case challenging an Arizona “clean elections” law that provides greater public funding to candidates outspent by opponents who refused public funds. (The Hill)
• Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials Mary Ellen Callahan and Ivan Fong are testifying before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee regarding DHS’s FOIA compliance this week. (The Hill) As the hearing approaches, information continues to be uncovered indicating that DHS continues to block the release of requested documents. (Politico)
• The American Small Business League is suing the Navy for refusing to release subcontracting reports on contracts awarded to SAIC. (Sun Herald)
• In trying to put the calendar of Elizabeth Warren, head of the Consumer Financial Protection Board, online, the board has found that posting “interactive leadership calendars” may be rare because it’s so difficult. (Tech President)
• The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB), U.S. accounting and audit industry regulator, recently presented reports examining the role of the audit industry during the financial crisis. (Forbes)
• Expert Labs’ Clay Johnson warns that, “It’s time to end the self congratulatory hug of the Open Government directive and solve some hard problems.” (Expert Labs)

Relevant committee hearings scheduled for 3/28-4/1:

House:

• None scheduled.

Senate:

• Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, Federal Services, and International Security. To examine tools to prevent Department of Defense cost overruns. Tues. 3/29. 2:30pm. Senate Dirksen Building #342.
• Judiciary. An oversight hearing to examine the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Wed. 3/30. 10:00am. Senate Dirksen Building #226.

Relevant bills introduced:

• None.

Transparency events scheduled for 3/28-4/1:

• Forecasting the Future: Social Media and Predictive Analysis in the Arab World. United States Institute of Peace. Tues. 3/29. 8:30-10:30am. The National Press Club. 529 14th Street, NW. Washington, DC.
• International Engagement in Cyberspace. Georgetown University Institute for Law, Science, and Global Security. Tues. 3/29. 9:00am-6:30pm. Gaston Hall. 37th & O Streets, NW | Washington, DC 20057.
• Analyzing Agency Spending: How to Understand Spending and Identify Savings Opportunities. SAP BusinessObjects. Tues. 3/29. 2:00pm. Webinar.
• The Rumsfeld Era at the Pentagon: Inside Perspectives. Hudson Institute. Tues. 3/29. 3:00-5:00pm. 1015 15th Street, NW. 6th Floor. Washington, DC 20005.
• What has the WikiLeaks incident taught us about information-sharing and cybersecurity? Government Executive. Wed. 3/30. 7:30-9:30am. Ronald Reagan Building – the Rotunda. 8th Floor (North Tower). 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW. Washington, DC.
• Cyber Technology: Ethical, Legal and Social Impacts. Potomac Institute for Policy Studies. Wed. 3/30. 12:00-2:00pm. 901 North Stuart St., Suite 200. Arlington, Virginia, 22203.
• Governance, Corruption & Rule of Law Workgroup Planning Meeting. Society for International Development. Thurs. 3/31. 2:00-3:30pm. RTI International, 701 13th Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington, D.C.
• The First Hundred Days: An Early Look at the 112th Congress. American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research. Fri. 4/1. 9:00-10:30am. Wohlstetter Conference Center, Twelfth Floor, AEI. 1150 Seventeenth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036.