NEWS:

• A California budget facing a vote on Friday would save millions – at the cost of crippling existing public record laws. The budget would remove the need for agencies to provide documents electronically and respond to records requests within 10 days. California would no longer need to reimburse its agencies for compliance with the laws, but right to know advocates worry about the impact on citizens and members of the media. (LA Times)
• How many times can a man retire? At least 3, according to Senator Cornyn (R-TX), who currently collects three separate pensions for his stints as district judge, Texas Supreme Court justice, and state attorney general. Fiscal watchdog groups blast this practice as “double-dipping.” (National Journal)
• Czech PM Petr Necas resigned on Sunday, with the rest of his government to follow suit shortly. Necas stepped down after his chief of staff, Jana Nagyoya, was charged with bribery and ordering surveillance of people including Necas’s wife. (techPresident)
• George Soros might be one of the nation’s most prominent liberal donors, but his foundation donates to dozens of conservative organizations each year. Soros Fund Management promises to match all of its employees’ charitable donations, resulting in the firm giving hundreds of thousands to religious organizations in 2012. (Public Integrity)
• In a shocker of the century, the government is inefficient …but wait, we now have numbers measuring exactly how much inefficiency we’re talking about.  A new report by Project Management Institute show that the federal sector loses $148 million for every billion it spends. The private sector is better, though not by much, losing $135 million for every billion spent. (Fierce Government)
• Billionaire Ron Perelman has often brought political friends into companies he controls, including Nancy Reagan and Henry Kissinger. The latest through his revolving door is Diana Cantor, wife of Republican House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, to the board of directors of Revlon. (National Journal)

• Social Security Payments Go Paperless: Protecting Seniors from Fraud and Confusion. Senate Aging. 2:00 p.m. Dirksen Room 366.