2Day in #OpenGov 12/7/12

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NEWS ROUNDUP:

Government

  • McConnell fights campaign finance reform: Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) is fighting against campaign finance reform as some members of his caucus talk about supporting the measures. (The Hill)
  • Something familiar about backroom talks: President Barack Obama is letting talks about the so-called “fiscal cliff” happen in the dark, despite being criticized during the healthcare reform negotiations for the same kind of move. (POLITICO)
  • DeMint leaves Congress for Heritage Foundation: U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC) announced he is resigning from Congress to lead the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank. South Carolina’s governor can appoint a replacement until a special election in 2014. (New York Times)
  • DOD might stop outsourcing FOIA: The Department of Defense is considering stopping some of its outsourcing of Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests. (Bloomberg)
  • Panel calls for revising classification standards: The Public Interest Declassification Board released a report calling for the executive branch to make changes to the classification system, calling the current process outdated and leaning toward too much secrecy. (New York Times)

Lobbying and influence 

  • Connection helps gain access to White House:  Business Forward, a group that has been friendly to President Barack Obama, has received access to senior White House officials to talk about the so-called “fiscal cliff.” Some in Washington say the group was formed in 2009 to promote Obama’s agenda. (The Hill)
  • Cliff lobbying: Are grassroots, bipartisan groups working to help find a deal and avoid the fiscal cliff? Some of the groups might have more political interest than their taglines would suggest. (Washington Post)
  • Montana group stalled in challenge to finance limits: American Tradition Partnership, which won a challenge to Montana campaign finance rules this summer, is still stalled in its challenges to the state’s campaign finance limits and disclosure rules. (Public Integrity)  

RELEVANT BILLS INTRODUCED:

  • None

HAPPENING TODAY 12/7: 

  • None 

JOB OPPORTUNITIES:

  • None

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