2Day in #OpenGov 10/11/2011

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Policy Fellow Matt Rumsey wrote this post.

Here is Tuesday’s look at the abbreviated week’s transparency-related news items, congressional committee hearings, transparency-related bills introduced in Congress, and transparency-related events.

News Roundup:

Super Committee 
  • Republicans and Democrats have found a rare issue to agree on; Super Committee transparency. Members of both parties are concerned that the committee has conducted too much of its business in secret. The opaque process may make it difficult for congress and the public to accept the panel’s recommendations. (New York Times)
Campaign Finance
  • President Obama has received more money from Wall Street than any other politician over the past 20 years. The Daily Caller cites the Sunlight Foundation in their report. (Yahoo/Daily Caller)
  • Debbie Wasserman Schultz, chairwoman of the DNC, no longer accepts campaign donations from federal lobbyists and PACs. However, her old leadership PAC is still raising funds from those sources. (Politico)
  • The New Mexico Republican party has filed a law suit alleging that a state law limiting contributions, to or by, political parties to $5,000 is unconstitutional. (LobbyComply)
Government
  • The Obama administration issued a secret legal memo that paved the way for the killing of radical Muslim cleric Anwar al-Awlaki. Reportedly, the memo stated that killing al-Awlaki would be lawful if it was not feasible to take him alive. (New York Times)
  • The Federal government forced Google and Sonic, an internet provider, to reveal data with a secret court order. The order was part of an effort to gain information from the email of WikiLeaks volunteer Jacob Appelbaum. (Politico)
State and Local
  • Dayton, Ohio is turning to new technology in an effort to reward residents for recycling. Since the program’s inception last month, recycling rates are up 40%. (govtech)
  • New York City’s Chief Digital Officer Rachel Sterne highlighted the city’s open government efforts in a presentation to the Strata conference. (govfresh)

Relevant committee hearings scheduled for 10/11-10/14:

Senate

  • Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Hearings to examine labor-management forums in the Federal government. SD-342. Tues. 10/11, 2:30 pm. Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce, and the District of Columbia.
  • Budget. Hearings to examine improving the congressional budget process. SD-608. Wed. 10/12, 9:30 am. Full committee hearing.
  • Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Hearings to examine ten years after 9/11, focusing on a status report on information sharing. SD-342. Wed. 10/12, 10:30 am. Full committee hearing.
House
  • Foreign Affairs. Markup on H.R. 2829: To promote transparency, accountability, and reform within the United Nations system, and for other purposes. 2172 RHOB. Thurs. 10/13, 12:00 pm.
  • House Administration. Federal Election Commission: Reviewing policies, processes, and procedures. 1310 LHOB. Thurs. 10/13, 3:00 pm. Subcommittee on Elections.

Relevant bills introduced:

  • S. 1651, a bill to provide for greater transparency and honesty in the Federal budget process. Introduced on 10/4/2011, referred to the Committee on the Budget.
Transparency events scheduled for 10/11-10/14:
Tuesday
Wednesday

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