NEWS ROUNDUP:

• For the second year in a row The Committee to Save New York, a group of business interests that work to support Governor Andrew Cuomo, spent more on lobbying in the state than any other organization. Overall lobbying in New York topped $200 million last year. (New York Times)
• The FEC reports for Sarah Palin’s PAC indicate that she spent only $300,000 supporting candidates in the 2012 election cycle while directing almost $5 million towards GOP consultants. Presumably those weren’t the same “big consultants” that she lambasted at her speech to CPAC last month. (Washington Post, Daily Beast)
• FCC commissioner Ajit Pai, who is about to become the senior Republican on the panel at the youthful age of 40, would like to use technology to improve agency processes and transparency. His major suggestion is a dashboard for information about license renewals, consumer complaints, merger reviews and more. (Federal Computer Week)
• The creators of Ubuntu are working with the Chinese government on Chinese-specific version of the operating system. The Chinese may be pushing an open source alternative to wean their citizens off western software products. (Tech President)
• Mark Zuckerberg’s new issue advocacy organization is tapping outside lobbyists in addition to its in house team for a push on immigration reform. Zuckerberg signed up Peck, Madigan, Jones & Stewart as well as Fierce, Isakowitz & Blalock lobbyists that have experience on immigration. (POLITICO)
• Congress might be on an Easter break, but that doesn’t mean the influence industry ignores the holiday. The holiday, known in secular circles for the abundance of sweets that come along with it, has powerful backers like the National Confectioners Association which hired 20 lobbyists last year. (Public Integrity)

RELEVANT BILLS INTRODUCED:

• H.R. 1380. To require the Public Printer to establish and maintain a website accessible to the public that allows the public to obtain electronic copies of all congressionally mandated reports in one place, and for other purposes. The Access to Congressionally Mandated Reports Act.
• H.R. 1338. Restoring Confidence in Our Democracy Act.

HAPPENING THIS WEEK 4/1-4/5:

• Mexico’s Future: In search of a new democratic equilibrium. AU. Mon. 4/1 6:00-7:30 pm + Tues. 4/2 9:30 am – 4:45 pm. 4400 Massachusetts Ave, NW Butler Board Room + Abramson Family Founders Room, SIS, Washington, DC 20016.
• Legislative Transparency and the Joint Committee on the Organization of Congress. George Mason School of Public Policy. Wed. 3/4. 12:00 – 1:00 pm. George Mason University, Arlington Campus, 3301 Fairfax Drive, Founders Hall, Room 317, Arlington, VA 22201.
• Ukraine’s Troubled Media: Prospects for the country’s democratic future. NED. Thurs. 4/4. 4:30 pm. National Endowment for Democracy, 1025 F Street NW, Suite 800, Washington, DC 20004.
• Simpler: The future of government. Brookings. Fri. 4/5. 10:00 – 11:30 am. 1775 Massachusetts Ave NW, Falk Auditorium, Washington, DC 20036.

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