2Day in #OpenGov 1/6/2011

by

Policy Fellow Matt Rumsey wrote this post.

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

News Roundup:

International
  • A Cambodian court took a hard stance against corruption by sentencing the country’s former anti-drug czar to life in prison after he was found guilty of accepting bribes and helping to organize a drug trafficking ring. (Voice of America News)
  • New whistleblower laws have had an obvious impact in Australia. Over 370 allegations were made in the six months after strong whistleblower protection laws were passed. (News.com.au)

Government

  • The State Department is going to turn to Twitter every Friday in January for questions during their Daily Press Briefing. Questions can be submitted via the #askstate hashtag. (Gov Fresh)
  • Two former government watchdogs recently landed jobs at companies that they were responsible for watching over. (POGO)

Lobbying

  • Mitt Romney has a slate of lobbyists advising his campaign. Their involvement has led some Democratic insiders to question the motives of the companies employing these lobbyists. (National Journal)
  • Almost 100 lawmakers who were defeated in the 2010 elections are now officially allowed to lobby their former colleagues, and replacements, on Capitol Hill. Many of them are already working on K street. (Roll Call $)
Campaign Finance
  • Republicans aren’t backing off of their support for Super PACs or the Citizens United decision after the independent groups emerged as the main vehicle for negative messaging during the Iowa caucus fight. (National Journal)
  • Red, White and Blue fund, a major pro-Rick Santorum Super PAC, is following in the footsteps of other candidate-specific groups and changing its campaign finance filing status in order to avoid disclosing its donors until January 31. (Politico)

Relevant committee hearings scheduled for 1/6:

  • None.

Relevant bills introduced:

  • None.
Transparency events scheduled for 1/6:
  • None.

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