2Day in #OpenGov 2/24/2012

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:

Campaign Finance
  • Comedian Bill Maher became the first high profile donor to drop a generous donation on the pro-Obama super PAC Priorities USA Action. He presented the group with a $1 million check during a stand-up act in California. (National Journal)
  • Texas billionaire Harold Simmons, who has outspent every other super PAC donor this election cycle, has a history of giving big bucks to conservative causes. In 2004 he was a prime backer of Swift Boat Veterans for Truth and in 2008 he helped bankroll ads suggesting Barack Obama supported the Weather Underground. (Politico)

Lobbying

  • Google has named Susan Molinari, a former member of Congress and longtime lobbyist, as head of its Washington, DC offices. (Washington Post)
  • Federal contractors are worried that provisions in the STOCK Act could force their employees to register as lobbyists. They claim that the legislation could threaten industry and government relationships. (Federal Computer Week)
International
  • Recent scandals have led a majority of British people to believe that corruption is a major problem in the UK. (Transparency International)
  • The European Court of Human Rights ruled against Turkish courts by finding that they should not have fined a writer for editorials criticizing the Turkish Prime Minister for prosecuting journalists. (Courthouse News)

Relevant committee hearings scheduled for 2/24:

  • None.

Relevant bills introduced:

  • None.
Transparency events scheduled for 2/24:

Do you want to track transparency news? You can add our feed to your Google Reader, or view it on our Netvibes page.