• Wealthy individuals push policy in California: 11 initiatives are on the ballot in California this November. But, many of them are being pushed by wealthy individuals, a new trend. In the current era of campaign finance deregulation, the wealthy may increasingly be using tools that were originally intended to help common people exercise democratic power. (New York Times)
• When it comes to transparency in Texas, bigger may be better: According to a new study, the largest cities in Texas are doing less to deny public records requests than many of their medium sized suburbs. The worst offender was McKinney, a Dallas suburb, which tried to deny more than 300 public records requests per 100,000 citizens. Several other Dallas suburbs were high on the list of offenders. (Public Integrity)

• Taking transparency to the radio: Acknowledging the fact that only 13% of Africans use the internet, Transparency International employs a variety of means to educate citizens about corruption. This summer, TI Madagascar took to the radio waves to answer questions and spread information about corruption. (Transparency International)
• Italy anti-corruption law: Italy, where corruption siphons an estimated $78 billion a year out of public coffers, is moving closer to passing a long awaited anti-corruption law. Italy’s senate passed the legislation amid numerous government corruption scandals and six months ahead of national elections. It now awaits passage by their lower house. (Trust Law)

RELEVANT BILLS INTRODUCED:

• Reality Diplomacy: How ambassadors deal with crime and corruption abroad. GMU. 12:30 – 2:00 pm. George Mason University, 3351 Fairfax Drive, Room 113, Founders Hall, Arlington, VA 22201.