2Day in #OpenGov 5/3/2012

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NEWS ROUNDUP

Campaign Finance

  • Sherman’s investments pay off: Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Ca) has had astonishing success investing excess campaign cash over the years. The practice is common among lawmakers in safe seats, but Sherman is notable for gaining more money, $652,000, via investments over the years than he managed to raise through the first quarter of 2012. (Politico)
  • Wooing Wall Street? President Obama has struggled to raise money from Wall Street this election cycle. His fundraising team is working hard to convince donors from 2008 to chip in again. (New York Times Magazine)
  • Rubio’s rocky relationship: Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) is facing questions from the FEC over irregular contributions to the leadership PAC that he set up 9 months ago. Rubio has already paid fines for accepting donations to his campaign that exceeded the legal limit. (Roll Call $)

Government

  • Arguing Open Data: Alex Howard rounded up responses, and provided his own perspectives, to Tom Slee’s blogpost questioning the validity of the ‘Open Data Movement’. (Gov Fresh)
  • Big (data) changes: “big data” has the ability to remake scientific discovery and government efficiency. But, changes will require a large upfront investment from government and the private sector. (National Journal)
International
  • PMOs convene in Washington: Parliamentary Monitoring Organizations from 37 countries came together earlier this week to advocate for open, transparent parliaments. The PMOs in attendance agreed on a shared declaration of principles for parliamentary transparency. (NDI)
  • Eritrea’s number one! According to a new report by the Committee to Protect Journalists, Eritrea has supplanted North Korea as the world’s leading press censor. (Yahoo/AFP)

RELEVANT BILLS INTRODUCED

  • H.R. 4631. The Government Spending Accountability Act of 2012. Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

HAPPENING TODAY 5/3

  • None.
SCHEDULED TOMORROW 5/4
  • None. 

Policy Fellow Matt Rumsey wrote this post.

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