2Day in #OpenGov 5/9/2013

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NEWS:

  • It’s official, reported lobbying by firms dedicated to the task was down almost 4% during the first quarter of 2013. Overall, lobbying appears to be down slightly more than 1% over the fourth quarter of 2012. (Roll Call)
  • There has always been a healthy traffic flow between high level Washington operatives and high paying jobs on Wall Street, but recently volume has picked up significantly. Major banks including Goldman Sachs, Credit Suisse, Citigroup, and more are turning to Washington for talent, reversing a trend that often saw policy makers looking to Wall Street for economic understanding. (POLITICO)
  • There is a progressive revolt being staged against Facebook. A number of liberal groups are upset with the way that Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg’s political group, FWD.us, is approaching the immigration debate and are pulling their ads from Facebook to show their disapproval. (Tech President)
  • New York City launched a beta version of its developer portal last night. The portal will help civic hackers work on projects based on New York’s APIs and data. (@BetaNYC)
  • Big Data is coming to the rescue and saving the government from the scourge of improper payments. The government gives away roughly $100 billion improperly every year through duplication, disbursement to inelligable recipients, and more but big data and analytics has helped reduce this rate. (Federal Computer Week)
  • Opinion: Bloomberg weighs in on the rule currently before the SEC that would require public companies to disclose how they use corporate money to fund political activities. Their opinion? Make it happen. (Bloomberg)

BILLS:

  • H.R. 1858. To amend the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 to provide enhanced enforcement authority for occupational safety and health protections applicable to the legislative branch, to provide whistleblower protections and other anti discrimination protections for employees of the legislative branch, and for other purposes.
  • H.R. 1873. To require greater accountability in discretionary and direct spending programs, and for other purposes.
  • H.R. 1872. To amend the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 to increase transparency in Federal budgeting, and for other purposes.
  • S. 877. Veterans Affairs Research Transparency Act of 2013.

TODAY:

  • Regulating in the Digital Age. Progressive Policy Institute. 9:00 am – 3:30 pm. Hotel Monaco, 700 F Street NW, Paris Ballroom, Washington, DC.

TOMORROW:

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