Keep reading for an today’s look at #OpenGov news, events, and analysis including a birthday, UK census data, and the importance of simply releasing data. 

National News

• Charlie Rangel (D-NY) keeps getting elected and he keeps getting called out for failing to report expenses paid travel. In the most recent incident, he failed to report an all-expenses paid trip to China last year, although he moved to amend disclosure forms after the story broke. (National Journal)
• ‘Super PAC’ turns 4 today, wish the term a happy birthday and pray for it to have a short life. (Public Integrity)
• OMB is working to identify government reports that are duplicative or unread, adding 74 to a list of nearly 400. Congress could make it even easier to ID these redundant reports by passing the Access to Congressionally Mandated Reports Act. (Government Executive)

International News

• You can now dig deeply into data from the 2011 UK Census thanks to DataShine. (Flowing Data)
• A member of the UAE’s Federal National Council urged more transparency in financial markets to root out illegal activity and build financial stability. (Zawya)

State and Local News

• Standards, platforms, and best practices are important when it comes to open data, but not as important as simply releasing data. (US ODI)
• SWAT Teams across Massachusetts are administered in an interesting way that they think allows them to avoid public records requirements. The heavily armed squads are operated by Law Enforcement Councils, funded by a group of police departments and organized as 501(c)(3) non-profits. (Washington Post)
• South Dakota’s Governor recently signed an executive order that will result in the release of data about state revenue, expenses, and cash balances. (Washington Times)

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