2Day in #OpenGov 2/6/2012

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Policy Fellow Matt Rumsey wrote this post.

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

News Roundup:

Campaign Finance
  • Rep. Steve Israel (D-NY), chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, expressed his concern over the potential influence of outside spending on Congressional elections this year. (National Journal)
  • Two new super PACs were registered last week, both opposed to the growing influence of money in politics. Citizens Against Super PACs intends to raise money and run ads to educate the public about super PACs and support candidates who support a constitutional amendment limiting or banning the groups. (Washington Times)

Lobbying

  • Football related organizations have been spending record amounts on lobbying as Congress has stepped up its oversight of the game over the past few years. (Politico)
  • Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-GA) is losing his top health aide to the revolving door. Tyler Thompson is leaving Isakson for the health care practice at the Bockorny Group. (National Journal)
International
  • Regards Citoyens, a French organization promoting open data, is holding an international conference on opening legislative data. The event will take place July 6-7 in Paris and feature the unveiling of a new legislative evolution monitoring tool. (Open Knowledge Foundation)
  • A survey is being conducted, in preparation for the release of the World e-Parliament Report 2012, to measure progress of e-parliament and recent technological developments. (ICT Parliament)
  • Following a regime change in 2011, many Tunisian politicians are turning to twitter and other social media to connect with citizens. (Global Voices)

Relevant committee hearings scheduled for 2/6-2/10:

House:

  • Budget Hearing- Library of Congress, U.S. Government Accountability Office, U.S. Government Printing Office, Congressional Budget Office. Tues. 2/7. 9:30 am. HT-2 Capitol. Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Appropriations.
  • Solutions needed: Improper Payments Total $115 Billion in Federal Misspending. Tues. 2/7. 10:00 am. 2318 RHOB. Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on Government Organization, Efficiency, and Financial Management.
  • Legislative Proposals to Promote Accountability and Transparency at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Wed. 2/8. 10:00 am. 2128 RHOB. Committee of Financial Services Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit.
  • Union Worker Forced Political Contributions. Wed. 2/8. 10:00 am. 2154 RHOB. Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
  • Interaction of Tax Policy and Financial Accounting Rules. Wed 2/8. 9:00 am. 1100 LHOB. Committee on Ways and Means.
  • SBA Information Technology Mismanagement. Wed. 2/8. 1:00 pm. 2360 RHOB. Committee on Small Business.
Senate:
  • Accessible Technology’s Role in Educating the Disabled. Tues. 2/7. G-50 DSOB. 2:30 pm. Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
  • Business meeting to consider S.1945, to permit the televising of Supreme Court proceedings. Thurs. 2/9. 10:00 am. 226 DSOB. Judiciary Committee.

Relevant bills introduced:

  • None.
Transparency events scheduled for 2/6-2/10:

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