NEWS ROUNDUP:

State/Local

• Campaign finance reform in Connecticut unlikely: An impasse between Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy and the state’s legislature has made the chance of passing a campaign finance law slim. The two parties differ on the perceived role of the public financing of elections. (Connecticut Mirror)
• In Vermont, no increase in PAC contribution limits: A suit by a Vermont political action committee declaring the state’s campaign finance laws overbroad and unconstitutional has been rejected by a federal judge, keeping the contribution limit of $2,000 intact. This decision, however, depended mightily on the too-strong relationship between the PAC and its associated group, the Vermont Right to Life Committee. (Lobby Comply Blog)

International

• Nigeria to release finances of national legislators: The Federal High Court of Nigeria has ruled that the National Assembly is required to report the earnings of all legislators in the assembly amid accusations of their massive overpayment. (Sahara Reporters)
• New Hungarian website streamlines FOIA requests: Using the same platform as the popular British website WhatDoTheyKnow, Hungary has created a site for users to more easily submit Freedom of Information requests. (Global Voices)
• Groundbreaking transparency laws passed in Hamburg: A new set of transparency laws passed in Hamburg, Germany, places the legal obligation of public information publication onto the entities that hold the information, which includes not only the government but also bodies that are publicly owned but privately legal. (Transparency International)

Government

• Analysis finds disturbing intersection of stock trades and lobbied legislation in Congress: Between $85 and $218 million dollars of stocks of companies that registered to lobby have been traded by 130 federal lawmakers between 2007 and 2010, and these potentially conflicted trades made up almost an eighth of all congressional stock activity in this time period. (Washington Post)
• FOIA request about targeted killings denied by DOJ: Arguing that such disclosure could threaten national security, the Department of Justice has, on behalf of the Obama administration, rejected a FOIA request by the ACLU asking to reveal information about targeted killings abroad, which the group claims violates international and U.S. law. (JURIST)
• Montana campaign finance limits struck down by US Supreme Court: A 5-4 ruling (split across partisan lines) by the United States Supreme Court nullified Montana’s limit on campaign contributions, saying that the laws go against the Citizens United ruling. (Politico)

RELEVANT BILLS INTRODUCED:

• S.3310. Foreign Aid Transparency and Accountability Act of 2012. Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
• S.3312. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to reform the system of public financing for Presidential elections, and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.

HAPPENING THIS WEEK 6/25 – 6/29:

Hearings:

• The Future of Video. House Energy and Commerce. Wed. 6/27. 10:00 a.m. 2123 Rayburn House Office Building. Communications and Technology subcommittee hearing.
• International IP Enforcement: Protecting Patents, Trade Secrets and Market Access. House Judiciary. Wed. 6/27. 10:00 a.m. 2141 Rayburn House Office Building. Intellectual Property, Competition and the Internet subcommittee hearing.
• Prohibiting the Use of Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Tactics in Federal Elections. Senate Judiciary. Tues. 6/26. 10:00 a.m. 226 Dirksen Senate Office Building. Hearing.

Events:

• Data-Powered Journalism Series, Part II: Excel-ing at Data. Mon. 6/25. 9:00 a.m. Bloomberg Room: The National Press Club. 529 14th Street NW, 13th Floor, Washington, D.C.
• Clear and Present Danger: Attempts to Change Internet Governance and Implications for Press Freedom. Tues. 6/26. 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. National Endowment for Democracy. 1025 F Street NW, Suite 800, Washington, D.C.
• Big Data: A New Natural Resource. Wed. 6/27. 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Capitol Visitor Center. East Capitol Street NE and 1st Street NE, Washington, D.C.
• Doodle or Die, Agile Design, and Why Every Designer Should Learn to Code: Thurs. 6/28. 7:00 p.m. LivingSocial. 1445 New York Avenue NW, #200, Washington, D.C.
• Giving USA 2012: Who Gave, How Much, and to Whom in 2011?. Fri. 6/29. 12:00 – 2:00 p.m. Hudson Institute. 1015 15th Street NW, 6th Floor, Washington, D.C.

JOB OPPORTUNITIES:

• Program Coordinator: Open Society Foundations.

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