2Day in #OpenGov 9/30/2011

by

Policy Fellow Matt Rumsey wrote this post.

Look forward to the weekend with Friday’s transparency-related news items, congressional committee hearings, transparency-related bills introduced in Congress, and transparency-related events.

News Roundup:

Access to Information

  • The Department of Homeland Security doesn’t want you to communicate with their communications staff. They released extensive records in response to a FOIA request, but redacted work phone numbers and email addresses for all communications contacts. Sunlight’s Gabriela Schneider blogged about a similar issue yesterday. (Federal Times)
Government and Ethics
  • A bipartisan group of Senators is decrying proposed cuts to the GAO’s budget. They fear that the cuts will hamper the agency’s ability to seek out waste and abuse in the Federal government. (The Hill)
  • A group of 20 House Democrats has called for an inquiry into allegations that Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas violated ethics rules by failing to report his wife’s income. (Roll Call)
State and Local
  • A group in New Orleans is crowdsourcing ideas to improve their city with Neighborland, a new website. They hope to spark discussion and inspire locals to push their ideas forward. (Lobby Comply)

Relevant committee hearings scheduled for 9/30:

  • None.

Relevant bills introduced:

  • S. 1628. A bill to provide for improvements in the federal hiring process, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs.

Transparency events scheduled for 9/30:

  •  None.

Do you want to track transparency news? You can add our feed to your Google Reader.