2Day in #OpenGov 12/6/2011

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Policy Fellow Matt Rumsey wrote this post.

Here is the Tuesday’s take on transparency-related news items, congressional committee hearings, transparency-related bills introduced in Congress, and transparency-related events.

News Roundup:

Access to Information

  • The United States and India teamed up in an effort to make the open data platform data.gov open source. There are currently 28 international open data platforms, the effort aims to help more countries introduce their own platforms. (O’Reilly Radar)
  • Senators Dick Durbin (D-Ill) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) introduced a bill to allow Supreme Court proceedings to be televised. The Senate Judiciary Committee subcommittee on Administrative Oversight and the Courts is holding a hearing on the bill today. (Roll Call $)
  • Sarah Kaufman, one of the driving forces behind the New York City Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s embrace of open data and partnerships with third party software developers, is leaving for a position at New York University. (techPresident)
  • Good-government groups called for the Super Committee to retroactively embrace transparency by posting its unreleased proposals online for the public to vet. (Politico)
Lobbying
  • New recordings show representatives of one of Britain’s largest lobbying firms boasting about its use of “dark arts” to bury bad coverage and influence public opinion. Notably, they suggested that they could manipulate Google results to hide coverage of human rights violations. (The Independent)
  • Billions of dollars worth of tax breaks and credits are set to expire this month. Lobbyists are working overtime to try and squeeze them through before the end of the year. (Politico)
Campaign Finance
  • Newt Gingrich is looking to match his fundraising to his rising poll numbers. In order to compete past the early state contests Gingrich will have to raise significant funds. He is setting his sights on K street and Manhattan to achieve this goal. (New York Times)
  • A Super PAC, previously dedicated to electing Herman Cain, is searching for a new candidate to support with their unlimited fundraising abilities. As long as they notify the FEC, the 9-9-9 Fund can easily support a new candidate. (Politico)

Relevant committee hearings scheduled for 12/6:

House

  • H.R. 1148, the Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge Act. Financial Services. 2128 RHOB. 10:00 am. Full Committee Hearing.
Senate
  • Oversight of the implementation of the Wall Street Reform Act. Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. 538 DSOB. 10:00 am.
  • Whistleblower protections for government contractors. Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. 342 DSOB. 10:00 am. Subcommittee on Contracting Oversight.
  • Access to the court, focusing on televising the Supreme Court. Judiciary. 226 DSOB. 10:00 am. Subcommittee on Administrative Oversight and the Courts.

Relevant bills introduced:

  • None.
Transparency events scheduled for 12/6:

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