2Day in #OpenGov 9/12/2011

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Here’s 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:

Super Committee

  • Sen. Kerry (D-MA) says he will avoid lobbyists and fundraisers while the Super Committee tries to find $1.5 trillion in spending cuts. (Boston Globe)

Lobbying

  • Ogilvy Government Relations, a major K Street lobby firm, has launched a separate Spanish-language website to cater to clients from the Hispanic community. (The Hill)
  • Set to be launched next month, YouLobby intends to help voters combine their resources to buy the expensive lobbying influence that previously only well-resourced groups have had access to. (Roll Call $) The site is expected to serve as a “sort of Kickstarter for lobbying campaigns.” (techPresident)
  • Boutique lobbying firm Thorn Run Partners has hired a former staffer to House Judiciary Chairman Lamar Smith. (National Journal)

Technology

  • National Journal provides commentary on the White House’s new E-Petition site, “We the People,” which will be launched next month. (National Journal)
  • Public Knowledge is planning to build a micro-site to draw attention to the impact of when Internet service providers cap the amount of data customers can use. (National Journal)
  • A bilateral codeathon will be held in Washington, DC and Moscow, Russia to promote open government initiatives. (Huffington Post)

State and Local

  • The New York City Campaign Finance Board has proposed new rules requiring certain independent expenditures to be reported. (Lobby Comply Blog)

Relevant committee hearings scheduled for 9/12-9/16:

House

  • Oversight and Government Reform. President’s Economic and Jobs Proposal. 2154 RHOB. Tues. 9/13, 10:00am. Regulatory Affairs, Stimulus Oversight and Government Spending Subcommittee hearing.
  • Oversight and Government Reform. Broken Federal Regulation Process. 2154 RHOB. Wed. 9/14, 9:30am. Full committee hearing.
  • Oversight and Government Reform. Corruption in Afghanistan Defense Contracting. 2247 RHOB. Thurs. 9/15, 9:30am. National Security, Homeland Defense, and Foreign Operations Subcommittee hearing.
Senate
  • Finance. Role of Tax Reform in Comprehensive Deficit Reduction. 215 DSOB. Tues. 9/13, 2:00pm. Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Growth Subcommittee hearing.
  • Appropriations. Financial Services Appropriations. 138 DSOB. Wed. 9/14, 11:00am. Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee markup.
  • Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Defense Department Accountability. 342 DSOB. Thurs. 9/15, 2:30pm.

Relevant bills introduced:

  • H.R. 2879. A bill to amend title 31, United States Code, to require that money and proceeds from gifts given to reduce the public debt are only deposited into the account established for those gifts; to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Transparency events scheduled for 9/12-9/16:

Monday

  • Shadow Financial Regulatory Committee. American Enterprise Institute. 12:30-1:30pm. Wohlstetter Conference Center, Twelfth Floor, 1150 Seventeenth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036.
Tuesday
Thursday

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