Campaign Finance

• A few days after Senate Candidate George Allen (R-VA) picked up super PAC support an independent group has stepped up to provide unlimited backing to his opponent Tim Kaine (D-VA). (Washington Post)
• A group of Senate Republicans, concerned that the IRS is targeting tea party groups in their investigation of recently created political groups, is urging the agency to act in an “even-handed and transparent manner”. (Washington Post)

Government

• A non-partisan coalition of advocacy groups is asking the Senate Armed Services Committee to open up their markup of the National Defense Authorization Act, which was drafted behind closed doors last year. (POGO)
• Following up on their report that lawmakers who turn lobbyist after retiring make up to 1,452 % more, on average, in their new jobs, the Republic Report is urging 34 retiring members of Congress disclose information about their ongoing job negotiations. (Republic Report)
• Dan Lungren (R-CA), chairman of the Committee on House Administration, sees more room for improvement in efforts to enhance congressional transparency. Lungren’s committee has been lauded for making progress in the area over the past year. (The Hill)

• A case involving public access to email exchanged between public officials related to legislation is likely to be decided by Chile’s national transparency council in the coming weeks. The activist who brought the suit argue that the emails are both public information and a vital part of the historical record. (Open Society Foundation)
• A new report highlights potential corruption risks in Hungary due to the close relationship between the political and business elite. (Transparency International)