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

News Roundup:

• Chairman Issa of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee has focused his committee on investigating the Obama Administration, but so far his efforts have not uncovered anything new. (Roll Call $)
• The $553 billion defense bill is full of money marked for projects in districts represented by House GOP freshmen, despite their stated support for the earmark ban. (Washington post)
• American League of Lobbyists President Howard Marlowe said he plans to begin lobbying this summer for changes to lobbying laws. (Talking Points Memo)
• Congressional Democrats are circulating a letter to the White House in support of the draft executive order that would require government contractors to disclose their political spending. (Roll Call $) The president of the AFL-CIO has also recently come out in support of the order. (The Hill)
• Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) accused Republican-leaning  Commission on Growth and Opportunity of failing to file required disclosure statements with the Federal Election Commission (FEC). (Bloomberg)
• Canadian Lobbying Commissioner Karen Shepherd is advocating for the ability to fine people who violate the Lobbying Act and Code of Conduct. (Hill Times)
• Regardless of the circumstances of his resignation, former Sen. John Ensign (R-NV) is eligible for full pension benefits once he turns 62 – an estimated $27,000 annually. (Las Vegas Review – Journal)
• Former Sen. Blanche Lincoln is heading to K Street to join Alston & Bird. (Roll Call $)
• Opinion: Earmark requests keep coming, despite the earmark ban. (Des Moines Register)
• Opinion: Jeff Jarvis proposed a Hippocratic Oath for the Internet: “do no harm.” (Buzz Machine)
• Opinion: The revolving door at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is out of control, and Congress should move to distance the commissioners from those they regulate. (Daily World)

Relevant committee hearings scheduled for 5/24:

House

• Oversight and Government Reform. Subcommittee on TARP, Financial Services, and Bailouts of Public and Private Programs. Who’s Watching the Watchmen? Oversight of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. 2:00pm. 2154 RHOB. Check out live coverage of the hearing on Sunlight Live!

Senate

• Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Stimulus Contractor Tax Cheats. 2:30pm. SD 342.

Relevant bills introduced:

House

• H.R. 1934. A bill to improve certain administrative operations of the Library of Congress, and for other purposes; to the Committee on House Administration.
• H.R. 1949. A bill to ensure efficient performance of agency functions; to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

Senate

• None.

Transparency events scheduled for 5/24:

• None.