NEWS:

• With House Majority Leader Eric Cantor’s backing it looks like the DATA Act will see a vote in the House sooner rather than later. While action hasn’t been scheduled yet, proponents are confident that it will be soon. (POLITICO)
• Sen. David Vitter (R-LA) is raising money for a super PAC set up to support him, but while the PAC can raise unlimited cash and donors can give as much as they want, Vitter is only allowed to ask donors for $5,ooo each. (Public Integrity)
• Open Data is making it easier for folks using alternative fuels to fill up their vehicles. The Department of Energy releases information on alternative-fuel stations in a number of formats, including through APIs and bulk data. (fedscoop)
• “Sharing” companies, like Airbnb and Etsy, are planning a concerted federal, state, and local advocacy effort to fight against regulation, entrenched competing interests, and a lack of understanding from legislators. (POLITICO)
• CEOs are changing their tune when it comes to engaging with Washington. They aren’t just supporting their government relations and PACs, but engaging directly in politics and, in the case of Apple CEO Tim Cook, volunteering to go get grilled by Congress. (POLITICO)
• After nearly a year without a director, President Obama nominated John H. Thompson to lead the Census Bureau. Thompson currently heads up the University of Chicago’s National Opinion Research Center and has previous management experience at the Census. (Government Executive)
• A new story is exposing more about the political intelligence industry in Washington. It looks like the industry doesn’t just thrive on offhand conversations with Congressional staffers, it extends as far as Wall Street investors meeting in private with Obama administration officials about upcoming healthcare decisions. (Washington Post)
• Michelle Bachmann is facing fierce competition for her Congressional seat, but her stiffest competition might come from herself. She is facing multiple investigations into allegations that her presidential campaign concealed inappropriate payments to an Iowa state Senator for work he did on her campaign. (POLITICO)

BILLS:

• H.R. 2031. To amend title IV of the Public Health Service Act to expand the clinical trial registry data bank, and for other purposes.
• H.R. 2074. To direct the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, to submit to Congress, and make available to the public on the Internet, a report on the animals killed under the Wildlife Services program of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
• H.R. 2095. To prohibit an increase in the lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management until a centralized database of all lands identified as suitable for disposal by Resource Management plans for lands under the administrative jurisdiction of the Bureau is easily accessible to the public on a website of the Bureau.
• H.R. 2214. To amend the securities laws to require that registration statements, quarterly and annual reports, and proxy solicitations of public companies include a disclosure to shareholders of any expenditure made by that company in support of or in opposition to any candidate for Federal, State, or local public office.

THIS WEEK:

• Big Data and Why it Matters. US Chamber of Commerce. Thurs. 5/30. 8:00 am – 12: 00 pm. U.S. Chamber of Commerce, 1615 H Street NW, Anheuser-Busch Briefing Center, Washington, DC. 
• Using Technology to Promote Good Governance and Economic Transparency in West Africa. National Endowment for Democracy. Thurs. 5/30. 12:00 – 2:00 pm. 1025 F Street NW, Suite 800, Washington, DC 20006.

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