Keep reading for today’s look at #OpenGov news, events, and analysis, including the perpetually ineffective earmark ban, 25 new countries support open parliaments, and a campaign finance smackdown in the Senate. 

National News

• The House banned earmarks a while back, but the Senate never really got comfortable with the concept, leading to a system where the House stands strong against funding specific projects in their home districts, the Senate drops money in when they get a crack at the legislation, and the funds survive Conference committee without much fuss from the lower chamber. (Federal Computer Week)
• Senate Republicans blocked a proposed constitutional amendment that would give Congress more power to regulate campaign finance and effectively override recent Supreme Court decisions like Citizens United. (POLITICO)
• The USDA is developing a new tool that uses satellite data to predict drought conditions up to a month before they’re actually felt on the ground. (Government Technology)

International News

• The Organization of American States got the heads of parliament from 25 countries in the Americas together. Lo and behold, they all endorsed the Lima Declaration, which contains an endorsement for the Declaration on Parliamentary Openness. (Opening Parliament)
• New Zealand is working hard, to the tune of $2.5 million, to expand patient access to digital medical records and information about their doctors appointments. (Future Gov)

State and Local News

• Open data is transforming cities, making it easier to start businesses, find cheap rent, and solve public policy problems. (GovLab)

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