2Day in #OpenGov 2/21/2013

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NEWS ROUNDUP:

  • David Axelrod, former Obama chief campaign strategist and current NBC News talking head, went on a twitter rant against money in politics that implied he would support unlimited, disclosed donations to candidates if it meant the end of super PACs and other outside groups. (Politico)
  • It seems that Newt Gingrich has joined the Tea Party’s war against Karl Rove and other pragmatic Republicans. Gingrich attacked the idea of using super PACs and other unlimited spending groups to promote more moderate, electable candidates saying “we don’t want to become a party in which a handful of…bosses gather up money from billionaires in order to destroy the candidates which they don’t like.” (Washington Post)
  • As the Supreme Court prepares to consider another case that could continue to erode limits on campaign giving, National Journal explores the possible implications of a decision in favor of the RNC and donor Shaun McCutcheon.(National Journal)
  • The Department of Justice and Securities and Exchange Commission have dropped a probe into allegations that Minessota-based 3M violated the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. The company had disclosed, and investigated, possible violations at a subsidiary in Tureky. (Wall Street Journal)
  • Oakland, CA is doing its best to out due its neighbor San Francisco in the open government arena, even if San Fran does have better PR. Oakland has a growing and robust open government community and is getting buy in from the local government. (Govfresh)
  • The race to replace disgraced Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., who plead guilty to campaign finance violations, has attracted almost $3 million in outside spending, most of it from New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s super PAC. (Public Integrity)

RELEVANT BILLS INTRODUCED:

  • H.R. 624. Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act.
  • H.R. 648. Campaign Sunlight Act of 2013.

HAPPENING TOMORROW 2/22: 

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