2Day in #OpenGov 10/24/2011

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Policy Fellow Matt Rumsey wrote this post.

It’s Monday and this is your first 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 
  • The Super Committee’s secrecy continues to irk lawmakers, journalists, and the public, but shows few signs of stopping. (National Journal)
  • Nearly 200 companies and special interests have reported lobbying members of the Super Committee in the six weeks since its inception. Health Care interests are leading the charge with the defense, transportation, energy, telecom, and education industries not far behind. (Politico)
Access to Information
  • WikiLeaks is facing financial difficulties and may close down by the end of the year.  Major financial institutions have been imposing a “financial blockade” on WikiLeaks, according to a post by founder Julian Assange. (Politico)
Lobbying
  • Herman Cain is making waves as an outsider running for the Republican Presidential Nomination, but his first serious exposure to politics was at the National Restaurant Association, which he helped transform into a major lobbying force. (New York Times)
  • Overall, lobbying expenditures were down in the third quarter. But, major tech firms, including Google, Facebook, and AT&T continued to spend rapidly as they face scrutiny from Congress and Federal regulators. (National Journal)
  • Senator John Kyl has hired Dave Hoppe, a longtime lobbyist for Quinn Gillespie, to serve as chief of staff in the Republican Whip’s office. Hoppe previously worked on the hill for more than two decades before becoming a lobbyist. (National Journal)
Technology
  • New York City Councilwoman Jessica Lappin has launched an online platform for her constituents to share ideas and voice concerns about neighborhood issues. Lappin wants to use the technology to help her constituents break down the barriers keeping them from government bureaucracy. (techPresident)
  • MC Hammer, who has traded in his hammer pants for a career as a tech entrepreneur, talked about how social media and technology can help citizens touch their local governments at the 2011 web 2.0 summit in San Francisco. (govfresh)

Relevant committee hearings scheduled for 10/24-10/28:

Super Committee
  • Joint Deficit Reduction. Security and Non-Security Discretionary Outlays. 218 HSOB. 10/26, 10:00 am. Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction.

Senate

  • None.
House
  • Financial Services. Insurance Oversight (part II). 2128 RHOB. 10/25, 10:00 am. Insurance, Housing, and Community Opportunity Subcommittee.
  • Education and Workforce. Union Election Procedures. 2175 RHOB. 10/26, 10:00 am. Full Committee markup.
  • Judiciary. Homeland Security Oversight. 2141 RHOB. 10/26, 10:00 am. Full Committee hearing.
  • Small Business. SBA Financing Programs Oversight. 2360 RHOB. 10/26, 1:00 pm. Full Committee hearing.
  • Oversight and Government Reform. Health Care Law Marriage Penalty/Deficit Impacts. 2154 RHOB. 10/27, 9:30 am. Subcommittee on Health Care, District of Columbia, Census, and the National Archives.
  • Oversight and Government Reform. Homeland Security Department Internal Control Weaknesses. 2247 RHOB. 10/27, 10:00 am. Subcommittee on Government Organization, Efficiency, and Financial Management.

Relevant bills introduced:

  • None.
Transparency events scheduled for 10/24-10/28:
Tuesday
Wednesday
Friday

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