by Carrie Tian, policy intern

NEWS:

• Obama kicked off his Africa tour with a visit to Senegal, where an online transparency platform called Sunu2012 sprang up in time for the nation’s 2012 elections and has continued to monitor the government since. (techPresident)
• The current state of disarray of the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity gives a window into the collapse of the century-old coal lobby. (National Journal)
• Well before Edward Markey had officially secured his US Senate seat, Massachusetts politicians were eyeing the House seat he’d be vacating. State Sen. Kathleen Clark had started fundraising and filed her candidacy paperwork on Feb. 19, and Middlesex County Sheriff Peter Koutoujian followed suit on May 22. (Roll Call)
• Just hours after the Supreme Court struck down DOMA, political analysts were speculating on the impact of gay marriage on the national budget. Tax revenue would increase thanks to the “marriage penalty” for two income earners, but payouts for Social Security would increase. Medicaid and Medicare spending would actually decrease, as spousal assets would reduce eligibility for the means-based programs. (National Journal)
• The immigration bill’s E-Verify amendment may have sailed through the Senate Judiciary Committee, but it’s having a tougher time in the House, where Democrats are concerned about the lack of safeguards for mislabeled employees. (POLITICO)