2Day in #OpenGov 5/31/2011

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After a long Memorial Day weekend, here is Tuesday’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:

  • Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT) spoke out against big pharma lobbying practices, and urged the FDA to require physicians groups and doctors to disclose drug company financial ties. (CBS News)
  • The government needs to change the way it stores and classifies information to adapt to the needs of a digital world, according to a top CIA official. (Federal Computer Week)
  • The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) may not be able to meet its deadline to create an easily searchable public website evaluating the effectiveness of all government programs without additional funding. (Next Gov)
  • According to Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO), the House Armed Services Committee’s version of the Defense authorization still contains earmarks despite the earmark bill. (Roll Call $)
  • The Senate passed legislation last week intended to facilitate FOIA requests. (The Hill)
  • Former Sen. Judd Gregg (R-NH) is moving to the Goldman Sachs Group to serve as an International Advisor. (Yahoo Finance)
  • Rep. Nydia Velázquez (D-NY) recently filed disclosure reports for thousands of dollars worth of travel that she had failed to disclose for several years. (Roll Call $)
  • Federal agencies are transitioning 78 computer programs to the cloud. (Next Gov)
  • The White House has released the plans of 30 agencies for reforming regulations. (Federal Computer Week)(Government Executive)
  • The inaugural eG8 Forum was held in Paris to discuss the “growing role of the Internet as a platform for collective action, economic growth and freedom of expression” last week. (O’Reilly Radar)

Relevant committee hearings scheduled for 5/31-6/3:

House

  • Federal Rulemaking/Judicial Review Transparency and Accountability. Judiciary. Courts, Commercial, and Administrative Law Subcommittee hearing. 2141 RHOB. Tues. 5/31. 4:00pm.
  • Corporate Campaign Contributions. Administration Committee. Elections Subcommittee hearing. 1310 LHOB. Wed. 6/1. 10:30am.
  • Federal Reserve Lending Disclosure. Financial Services. Domestic Monetary Policy and Technology Subcommittee hearing. 2128 RHOB. Wed. 6/1. 2:00pm.
  • Duplication, Overlap, and Inefficiencies in Federal Welfare Programs. Oversight and Government Reform. Subcommittee on Regulatory Affairs, Stimulus Oversight and Government Spending. 2247 RHOB. Wed. 6/1. 2:00pm.
  • Legislative Branch Appropriations. Appropriations. Legislative Branch Subcommittee markup. HT-2 Capitol. Thurs. 6/2. 9:00am.
  • IRS E-File and Identify Theft. Oversight and Government Reform. Subcommittee on Government Organization, Efficiency, and Financial Management. 2247 RHOB. Thurs. 6/2. 12:30pm.
  • Pathway to FDA Medical Device Approval: Is There a Better Way? Oversight and Government Reform. Subcommittee on Health Care, District of Columbia, Census and the National Archives. 2154 RHOB. Thurs. 6/2. 1:30pm.
  • Restoring Competition and Neutrality to Government Construction Projects. Oversight and Government Reform. Subcommittee on Technology, Information Policy, Intergovernmental Relations and Procurement Reform. 2154 RHOB. Fri. 6/3. 9:30am.

Senate

  • None.

Relevant bills introduced:

  • None.

Transparency events scheduled for 5/31-6/3: