National News

• Big data is having some big impacts on government according to this piece, which highlights three. Data is helping to enhance security and prevent fraud, it is improving service delivery and emergency response, and finally data is democratizing information access. (Federal Computer Week)
• Jim Messina, one of President Obama’s right hand men, was named to the board of directors of LanzaTech, a green energy firm that recently snagged millions in federal contracts and has financial backing from a major Obama donor. In addition to serving in a top White House job and running Obama’s reelection campaign, Messina heads up Organizing for Action. (The Washington Times)
• The House Ethics Committee is about to lose its staff director. Dan Schwager, who has served in the position since 2011 and overseen investigations into the actions of several high profile members of Congress, is expected to step down by the end of the year. (POLITICO)
• Many public companies are being proactive about the reporting the money that they spend on politics, with firms from the pharmaceutical, IT, chemical, health, and defense industries ranking highest in a new survey. It’s not all good news those, plenty of companies still refuse to share any information. (Public Integrity)

International News

• Ghanaian deputy finance minister Cassiel Ato Forson spoke in favor of stronger and more transparent public financial management systems at a workshop devoted to pushing the topic forward in West Africa. Official’s cited the global economic crisis and its continuing fallout as reasons to explore more transparent financial systems.  (Ghana Business News)
• Thailand is taking inspiration from I Paid a Bribe for their new corruption portal. The new website, launched by the Office of the Auditor General, allows citizens to report bribery and other corruption that they encounter. (Future Gov)

Bills in Congress

• H.R. 3183. To amend the Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2010 to provide consumers with a free annual disclosure of information the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection maintains on them, and for other purposes.

Events Today

• Executive Business Meeting to consider S. 42, the Criminal Antitrust Anti-Retaliation Act and the nomination of Patricia Wald to be a member of the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board. Senate Judiciary. 10:00 am. 226 Dirksen Senate Office Building.
• Open Hearing: FISA Legislation. Senate Intelligence. 2:00 pm. 216 Hart Senate Office Building.

Events Tomorrow

• International Right-to-Know Day Celebration. AU WCL. 10:00 am – 4:00 pm. AU Washington College of Law, WCL Room 603, 4801 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 200016.

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