Today in #OpenGov 9/9/2014

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Keep reading for today’s look at #OpenGov news, events, and analysis, including health data returning, anti-corruption efforts in the Czech Republic, and more. 

A newspaper with the headline Open Gov

National News

  • Former Rep. Mickey Edwards (R-OK) knows why Washington is so dysfunctional, and it has nothing to do with too much transparency or not enough corruption. Edwards argues that our election system pushes parties farther to the extremes, making cooperation between those eventually elected much more difficult. (Roll Call)
  • Documents dropped in a Vienna dumpster, dug up by a blogger revealed an investigation into allegations that the former US ambassador to Afghanistan and Iraq is being investigated for money laundering. (National Journal)
  • After quietly moving to cut off public access to data about hospital mistakes, the Centers Medicare and Medicaid Services are reversing course and publishing the data in a more user friendly manner. (USA Today)

International News

  • New research shows countries that do a better job of controlling corruption won fewer medals in the 2012 Olympics, perhaps because these countries also have lower rates of doping. (Harvard Business Review)
  • A coalition of 20 Czech NGOs have launched a new anti-corruption campaign with the rallying cry “we have a plan to end corruption. And we need your help to make it happen.” (Tech President)

State and Local News

  • Local citizens are turning to technology, bypassing their governments and engaging with their communities. Some, but not all, governments are embracing this bottom up change.(Government Technology)

Events This Week

Do you want to track transparency news? You can follow the progress of relevant bills, court cases, and regulations using Scout. You can also get Today in #OpenGov sent directly to your preferred news reader. If you would like suggest an event, please email mrumsey@sunlightfoundation.com by 7 am on the Monday prior to the event.