Policy Intern Adeeb Sahar wrote this post.

Here is your serving of today’s transparency-related news items, congressional committee hearings, transparency-related bills introduced in Congress, and local events involving open government.

NEWS ROUNDUP:

International

• Thumbprint readers stir fears in Venezuela vote: Opponents of President Hugo Chavez warn that the linking of thumbprint readers at Venezuelan ballot boxes to the electronic voting machines could affect voter turnout, repelling voters who harbor concerns over whether the government will know how each person votes. (Atlanta Journal Constitution)

Government

• Obama administration failing to live up to transparency promise: Despite campaign promises to lead the most transparent White House in history, some of these high-profile transparency measures have stalled, and by some measures the government is hiding more secrets in the policy-making process than ever before. (The Washington Post)
• ODNI redesigns website to improve transparency: The Office of the Director of National Intelligence has unveiled a revamped website that aims to increase transparency and provide more current information to citizens, including information on congressional testimonies, links to all intelligence community members, and other relevant news. (Federal Computer Week)
• GSA’s approves new ethics program: The Office of Government Ethics gave a clean bill of health to the General Service Admission’s ethics program, based on an examination of the agency’s financial disclosure procedures and ethics training and advising processes between 2008 and 2009. (The Washington Post)
• After defeat of Senate cybersecurity bill, Obama weighs executive-order option: In response to Senate Republicans recently blocking cybersecurity legislation, the White House is contemplating issuing an executive order to revive efforts to encourage private companies and government agencies to share information about cyber threats and to require critical infrastructure operators to meet minimum cybersecurity standards. (The Hill)

RELEVANT BILLS INTRODUCED:

• None.

HAPPENING THIS WEEK 8/6-8/10:

• Congress 2.0: Tues. 8/7. 1:30 – 3:00 p.m. New America Foundation. 1899 L Street NW, Suite 400, Washington, D.C.

JOB OPPORTUNITIES:

• None.

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