2Day in #OpenGov 1/9/2012
Policy Fellow Matt Rumsey wrote this post.
Here is a look at this week’s transparency-related news items, congressional committee hearings, transparency-related bills introduced in Congress, and transparency-related events.
News Roundup:
International
- Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff reacted swiftly when corruption scandals involving members of her cabinet emerged, firing six over the course of six months. The Brazilian public has responded with high approval of her leadership. (Transparency International)
- The Iranian government is stepping up their internet censorship efforts in advance of parliamentary elections scheduled for March 2. Iran eventually aims to replace the internet with their own national intranet. (Yahoo/Daily Caller)
Lobbying
- A recent study calculated that major multinational corporations received a 22,000 percent return on their lobbying investment from the 2004 American Jobs Creation Act. (NPR)
- A former lobbyist who plead guilty to fraud during the Jack Abramoff scandal has been putting in hours to support Rick Santorum’s presidential campaign in South Carolina. It is unclear if he is being paid, or acting as a volunteer (Roll Call $)
- A lawyer who has been accused of illegally lobbying for Sudan is being probed by the Justice Department. (The Hill)
Campaign Finance
- Winning Our Future, a Pro-Newt Gingrich Super PAC, received a serious cash infusion on Friday in the form of $5 million from Sheldon Adelson, a billionaire casino mogul and longtime republican donor. (Washington Times)
- Presidential candidates that rely heavily on large donors are also getting the biggest boost from Super PAC spending, according to federal records. (Washington Post)
- Several Republican presidential candidates have turned to anti-Super PAC rhetoric, but when pushed to call for substantive changes have mostly backed down. (Politico)
Relevant committee hearings scheduled for 1/9-1/13:
- None.
Relevant bills introduced:
- None.
Transparency events scheduled for 1/9-1/13:
- The Future of the Internet – Who Decides? CSIS. 1/10, 3:30-5:00 pm. Center for Strategic and International Studies, B1 Conference Center, 1800 K Street, NW Washington DC, 20006
- Principles of Internet Governance: An Agenda for Economic Growth and Innovation Brookings. 1/11, 1:00-3:00 pm. The Brookings Institution, Falk Auditorium, 1775 Massachusetts Ave, NW Washington, DC.
- What’s New in Online Sources of Information on International Relations SID. 1/12, 12:00-1:30 pm. National Endowment for Democracy Multi-Media Conference Room, 1025 F Street, NW, Suite 800, Washington DC.
- Fostering Growth Through Innovation Brookings. 1/13, 8:30 am – 4:00 pm. The Brookings Institution, Falk Auditorium, 1775 Massachusetts Ave, NW Washington, DC.
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