2Day in #OpenGov 12/27/2011
Policy Fellow Matt Rumsey wrote this post.
Here is 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
- A new effort, Yes We Scan, hopes to prod the federal government into putting information from the Library of Congress and other cultural resources online for the general public to see. If you support the effort, you can sign a petition asking the Obama administration for a response. (Tech President)
- Kill some time this holiday week by checking out Andrew Kaczynski’s YouTube channel. Kaczynski dug through CSPAN’s archives to find interesting and embarrassing footage of current presidential hopefuls. (Lobby Comply)
Money in Politics
- Member’s of Congress have seen their median net worth jump more than 200% since 1984, while the median net worth of Americans, as a whole, declined. (Washington Post)
- Some less known Super PACs are moving large amounts of money under the radar of heavy media scrutiny, without apparent connections to any candidate, and with mysterious purpose. (Roll Call $)
- 2011’s most important policy fights saw corresponding battles on K street. Highlights include wrangling over the Super Committee and millions of dollars spent on AT&T and T-Mobile’s attempted merger. (Politico)
- Over the past six years, Mitt Romney has donated more than $250,000 from his family charity foundation to influential conservative groups and notable GOP causes. (AP)
International
- Irish whistleblowers have few rights and face a culture strongly opposed to their actions. Legislation is currently being considered by Irish lawmakers that would strengthen whistleblower protections. (Transparency.org)
Relevant committee hearings scheduled for 12/27:
- None.
Relevant bills introduced:
- None.
Transparency events scheduled for 12/27:
- None.
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