2Day in #OpenGov 7/17/2013
by Justin Lin, policy intern
NEWS:
- The Democratic Congressional Committee raised $6.7 million in June and has paid off all its debts. The committee now has $13.2 million in the bank. This is due both to their success with online fundraising as well as assistance from House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and President Barack Obama in raising money. (Roll Call)
- The Senate reached a deal to avert the “nuclear option,” which would radically reform the filibuster, Tuesday and will confirm Thomas Perez as Labor Secretary and Gina McCarthy as EPA administrator. Most notably, Richard Cordray, whose appointment President Obama made during the Senate recess, will be confirmed as the head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. In return, Cordray has agreed to brief the Appropriations Committee and having an Inspector General. (Government Executive)
- Tom Corbett (R-PA) may want to run for re-election as Governor but he may soon face pressure on him from Pennsylvania Republicans not to do so. His approval rating is at a mere 35%, according to a recent Quinnipac Survey, partially because of scandals within his administration. (National Journal)
- Liz Cheney, daughter of former Vice-President Dick Cheney, announced that she will run against incumbent Senator Michael B. Enzi (R-WY) for the Republican nomination. Republicans had been hoping to avoid such a scenario but will now have to choose between the well-liked Enzi or the passionate Cheney. (New York Times)
- Edward Snowden, the NSA whistleblower, has filed a request for temporary asylum in Russia. He is expected to leave the Moscow airport where he is staying within a few days, according to his lawyers. However, it is unclear whether Russia will grant him temporary asylum. (Georgetown Law Center on National Security and the Law)
- House elections favor the incumbent just as much as before, but they have become many times more expensive over the past few decades. According to data from the Brookings Institution and the American Enterprise Institute spending in 1974, which would amount to $500,000 in today’s numbers, has ballooned to around $3.5 million today. (National Journal)
BILLS:
- HR. 2696. To increase transparency of agencies by requiring a report describing any proposed conference.
TODAY:
- Full Committee Markup – FY 2014 Commerce, Justice, and Science Appropriations Bill; and FY 2014 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Bill. Wed 7/17 10:00 a.m. 2359 Rayburn.
- House Judiciary Committee – Hearing: Oversight of the Administration’s Use of FISA Authorities. Wed 7/17 10:00 a.m. 2151 Rayburn House Office Building.
- Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee – Hearing: Shining a Light on the Consumer Debt Industry. Wed 7/17 10:00 a.m. 538 Dirksen Senate Office Building.
- Evaluating Privacy, Security, and Fraud Concerns with Obamacare’s Information Sharing Apparatus. Wed 7/17. 10:00 a.m. 2154 Rayburn House Office Building.
TOMORROW:
- Full Committee Markup of the Legislative Branch Appropriations Bill, FY 2014. Thurs 7/18. 11:30 a.m. Committee on Appropriations. Room 2359 Rayburn.
- Subcommittee Hearing: Oversight of Executive Order 13636 and Development of the Cybersecurity Framework. Thurs 7/18/13. 10:00 a.m. 311 Cannon House Office Building Washington, DC 20515.
