News

• Staff salary expenditures in the House have been falling steadily this decade, after large increases between 2001 and 2010. The drop in salary goes along with a significant drop in the total number of staff employed by the lower chamber. (Legistorm)
• The White House is looking for public input on its next Open Government Partnership plan, asking questions about federal spending transparency, citizen-agency interaction, and government information release. (Federal Computer Week)
• Mercury Clark & Weinstock followed up it’s hiring of the former US ambassador to Bahrain by adding a senior political aide to Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ). Michael Soliman, who ran Menendez’s 2012 campaign and has worked for a number of other Jersey Democrats, will serve as the firm’s managing director. (The Hill)
• Bitcoins are poised to take a big step into the political arena if the Conservative Action Fund gets its way at the FEC. The non-connected hybrid PAC asked if it could accept, and then contribute, sell, or spend bitcoins. (Roll Call)
• The UK is considering a new lobbying bill that, according to this analysis, will not result in a robust and useful lobbyist register. The bill will only touch a fraction of the UK’s lobbying industry, require minimal disclosure, and have the potential to chill civil society action. (Open Knowledge Blog)
• A new super PAC with its sights set on upcoming races in West Virginia has a strong lineage in Washington, DC GOP circles. West Virginians for Results shares an address with a DC law firm and its treasurer is a campaign finance lawyer who has worked at the NRCC and the Republican Party of Virginia. (Public Integrity)

Events

• The Open Internet Goes to Court. New America and Free Press.  3:00 – 4:30 pm. New America Foundation, 1899 L Street NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20036.
• Can the FCC Regulate the Internet? The Open Internet Order on Trial. American Enterprise Institute.  4:30 – 5:30. Online only via Google Hangout.

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