Today in #OpenGov 1/10/2014

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Keep reading for today’s look at #OpenGov news, events and analysis including changes at the Department of the Interior, Korea’s cultural heritage, and more transparency for judges in Montana? series-opengov-today

National News

  • Just a few years ago the Department of the Interior was plagued by various scandals and allegations of corruption. The agency is in the process of cleaning up its act and has passed various reforms including circulating a new ethics guide. (POGO)
  • A group of Congressional reporters is pushing for the Senate Armed Services Committee to open up its historically opaque defense authorization process. Carl Levin (D-MI), the chairman of the committee who is retiring at the end of the year, has indicated that he has no plans to comply with the request. (Roll Call)
  • Former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi is showing that she still has the necessary fundraising chops as she wages a quest to knock the GOP out of power and retain her spot at the top of the heap. She raised a reported $35 million for Democrats in 2013, more than she has leading up to past elections. (POLITICO)

International News

  • Korea’s Cultural Heritage Administration is embracing some open government principles with its new Korea National Heritage Online Portal, which aggregates and opens digital cultural data. Users can find research data, photos, video clips, and more resources related to the nation’s cultural history. (Future Gov)
  • People in Zimbabwe seem to be concerned about lack of effective asset disclosure among their ruling class. A recent survey found that citizens worry that lack of enforcement makes it easier for leaders to act in corrupt ways. (Transparency International)

State and Local News

  • New technologies make it easier for people to get involved and  tackle major social problems, but there is an argument that without the right incentives it is unlikely that critical masses of people will step up. (Next City)
  • Montana’s Supreme Court is considering requiring all judges in the state to file personal financial disclosure forms. The proposal comes on the heels of a Center for Public Integrity report that gave Montana a failing grade for transparency in this area. (Public Integrity)

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