2Day in #OpenGov 6/20/2011

by

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:

Government

  • Recovery.gov launched a new tool that allows users to compare stimulus spending with jobs data and other metrics. (NextGov)
  • Sam Rosen-Amy, the federal fiscal policy analyst at OMB Watch, talks to Federal News Radio regarding changes to the Electronic Government Fund and how this bill will change agencies’ transparency initiatives.
  • Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) sent a FOIA request to the Department of the Army requesting two contracts awarded to a company that has a close connection with Rep. Hal Rogers (R-KY).

Campaign Spending

  • Super PACs are avoiding disclosing donors by accepting donations from nonprofit organizations, which are not required to disclose where their funding comes from. (Open Secrets)
  • The Congressional Research Service is raising legal concerns regarding President Obama’s draft executive order requiring federal contractors to disclose political contributions. (iWatch News)

State and Local

  • Citing pressure from her superiors due to her investigation into the governor’s campaign, the director of the Georgia state ethics commission has resigned. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)(Real Clear Politics)
  • Opinion: Edward Fitzpatrick writes that Rhode Island political leaders need to strengthen the Access to Public Records Act to fight corruption, restore business leaders’ confidence, and restore public faith in the General Assembly. (The Providence Journal)
  • Opinion: Lois Henry writes that city government emails should be maintained as public records, and that Bakersfield, California should not be allowed to destroy these records. (The Bakersfield Californian)
  • Opinion: The League of Women Voters is joining Mercury News in advocating for the public posting of legislators’ calendars, speaking out against a California provision where state legislators are not allowed to share their calendars publicly. (Mercury News)

International

  • Ireland is working on legislation to increase transparency and accountability, with proposals such as strengthening the registration of lobbyists. (Irish Times)

Relevant committee hearings scheduled for 6/20-6/24:

Senate

  • None.

House

  • The Hatch Act: The Challenge of Separating Politics from Policy. Oversight and Government Reform, Full Committee. Tuesday. 3:00pm. 2154 RHOB.
  • Business Meeting. House Oversight and Government Reform. Wednesday. 9:30am. 2154 RHOB.
  • Regulatory Accountability. Judiciary, Courts, Commercial, and Administrative Law Subcommittee hearing. Wednesday. 10:00am. 2141 RHOB.
  • Improving Oversight and Accountability in Federal Grant Programs. Oversight and Government Reform, Subcommittee on Technology, Information Policy, Intergovernmental Relations, and Procurement Reform. Thursday. 9:30am. 2154 RHOB.
  • Full Committee Markup – FY 2012 Financial Services Bill / Correction to FY 2012 Energy and Water Bill. Appropriations, Full Committee. Thursday. 9:30am. 2359 RHOB.

Joint

  • Committee Organization. Joint Library, Full Committee. Wednesday. 10:30am. SC-6, Capitol.
  • Committee Organization. Joint Printing, Full Committee. Wednesday. 10:30am. SC-6, Capitol.

Relevant bills introduced:

  • None.

Transparency events scheduled for 6/20-6/24:

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday