Big Picture

• Rhetoric around open data has recently turned sharply towards its potential economic effects. The author argues that transparency and open government should be about accountability, not money. (Jonathan Gray/The Guardian)

National News

• A new book on the 2012 campaign claims that President Obama attended a super PAC fundraiser as the race ran down, despite earlier pledges to the contrary. The White House has pushed back against that claim, saying that the party in question was merely a “thank-you” bash. (POLITICO)
• The National Republican Senatorial Committee is changing its 2012 tone and will engage in Republican primaries, potentially backing more “traditional” GOP candidates over Tea Party favorites. The NRSC hopes to avoid running flawed candidates as they try to claw back the majority in the Senate. (Roll Call)

International News

• Recent discussions about ethics in open development have potentially posed more questions than they have answered. The ideas raised here revolve around informed consent and participation. (Open Knowledge Blog)

State and Local News

• As part of its endless quest to understand seemingly everything about the world, Google is urging local governments to release more data. Google will likely use local data to make user results even more personalized and localized. (Government Technology)
• Big money couldn’t slow down Chris Christie’s landslide victory in Virginia’s gubernatorial election, but it has been used to make his life more difficult in the coming months. Outside groups have spent tens of millions on legislative races in an attempt to maintain a large Democratic majority. (New York Times)

Events Today

• Business Meeting to Markup the DATA Act and other legislation. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Wed. 11/6. 10:00 am. SD-342, Dirksen Senate Office Building.
• Crime and Politics: The terrible cost of corruption in Latin American elections. American Enterprise Institute. Wed. 11/6. 9:30 – 11:00 am. 1150 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036.

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