2Day in #OpenGov 9/19/2011

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Policy Fellow Matt Rumsey wrote this post.

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

  • Over the past year “bundlers” have directed $1.6 million to members of the Super Committee and House and Senate campaign committees. Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash), co-chair of the committee, has received the most cash from these sources, but other members have also benefited. (Politico)

Presidential Candidates

  • Herman Cain has been touting a new economic plan, but refusing to disclose the names of those who helped him create it. (Washington Times)
  • Rick Perry’s surge in popularity has also brought increased attention to his,not-so-transparent record. The litany of issues is a stark contrast to the Perry campaign’s stated commitment to transparency. (Politico)
Government
  • 2010 was a very lucrative year outside the halls of Congress for lawmakers. According to a report by the Wall Street Journal, outside income reported by members of Congress tripled between 2006 and 2010. (National Journal)
  • The Government Printing office is going to begin blogging in conjunction with the Federal Deposit Library Program. They hope to share their professional expertise and perspectives with other like minded individuals. (FDLP)
  • The Federal Government is looking to upgrade their web presence, and wants advice from the public. The National Dialogue to Improve Federal Websites will ask the public to help guide how federal websites are created and managed. (Federal Times)
Technology
  • Competition is heating up among contractors competing for $2.5 billion worth of government funds dedicated to providing cloud based email services for government agencies. (Politico)
Ethics
  • According to a new study by the Ethisphere Institute, allowing employees to work from home reduces their rate of ethics violations. (Federal Computer Week)
International
  • Myanmar lifted bans on many prominent news websites and began allowing access to YouTube late last week. The change came the day after a U.S. Special Envoy ended his first trip to the notoriously restrictive country. (Yahoo/Reuters)

Relevant committee hearings scheduled for 9/19-9/23:

House

  • Rules. EPA Regulatory Analysis Transparency. H-313 Capitol. Tues. 9/20, 5:00pm. Full committee hearing.
  • Education and the Workforce. Education System Accountability. 2175 RHOB. Wed. 9/21, 10:00am. Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education Subcommittee hearing.
  • Oversight and Government Reform. Medicaid Eligibility Rules Abuses. 2247 RHOB. Wed. 9/21, 10:00am. Health Care, District of Columbia, Census, and the National Archives Subcommittee.
  • Oversight and Government Reform. Pending Business. 2154 RHOB. Wed. 9/21, 10:00am. Technology, Information Policy, Intergovernmental Relations, and Procurement Reform Subcommittee markup of pending business.
  • Oversight and Government Reform. Pending Business. 2154 RHOB. Wed. 9/21, 1:30pm. Federal Workforce, U.S. Postal SErvice, and Labor Policy Subcommittee markup of pending business.
  • Budget. Broken Budget Process. 210 CHOB. 9/21, 10:00am. Full Committee Hearing.
  • Small Business. Obama Administration Federal Rule Review Oversight. 2360 RHOB. 9/21, 1:00pm. Full Committee Hearing.
  • Ways and means. Scoring Tax Reform Legislation. 1100 LHOB. 9/21, 10:00am. Full Committee Hearing.
Senate
  • Finance. Incentives for Innovation Through Tax Reform. 215 DSOB. Tues. 9/20, 10:00am. Full committee hearing.
  • Homeland Security and Government Affairs. Intelligence Community Contractors. 342 DSOB. Tues. 9/20, 9:30am. Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce, and the District of Columbia Subcommittee Hearing.
  • Judiciary. Google Competition Policy. 226 DSOB.  Wed. 9/21, 2:00pm. Antitrust, Competition Policy, and Consumer Rights Subcommittee hearing.

Relevant bills introduced:

  • H.R. 2401. Transparency in Regulatory Analysis of Impacts on the Nation Act of 2011. Placed on the Union Calendar, No. 136.

Transparency events scheduled for 9/19-9/23:

Monday

Tuesday
Friday

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