NEWS ROUNDUP:
- Audit finds FOIA lag: More than 70 percent of federal agencies have failed to update their Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) standards in the past several years, according to an audit by the National Security Archive. (Washington Post)
- 2012 campaign spending spree could spark reform: The campaign spending spree in the 2012 elections could inspire lawmakers to put restrictions on political money, according to a panel of election law experts. (Roll Call)
- FTC, FCC nominees face high-stakes agendas: Presidential nominees for the Federal Trade Commission and Federal Communications Commission face some hefty agendas if they are confirmed by the Senate. Both agencies have several controversial issues on their agendas. (Yahoo)
The Missing Data Behind The Plum Book
The latest compilation of more than 8,000 federal jobs known as the Plum Book is out, and for the first time it is available in print, digital, and mobile format. There's still something missing, though, with this list that holds interest for the public and Washington, DC, power brokers: the data behind it. Every four years, the Government Printing Office (GPO) compiles this publication of positions that "may be subject to noncompetitive appointment," as GPO puts it. The book is important because of the information it provides about who is chosen to fill presidential-appointed and other positions. In short, it is the best, most authoritative list of senior positions throughout the executive branch. It originated in the 1950's during the Eisenhower administration, when the Republican Party requested a list of positions the president could fill, according to GPO. The Plum Book has come out every four years just after the presidential election since 1960. Anyone viewing the book (whatever the format) can look up positions by agency, position title, appointment type, pay, term expiration, and more. It is an incredibly rich source of information that has many possible uses. There are still barriers to accessing that information, however. The book is available on the GPO website in text and as a PDF, neither of which is an open format that would make sorting or reusing the underlying data a simple task.
Continue reading2Day in #OpenGov 12/4/12
NEWS ROUNDUP:
- Emerson resigns after winning re-election: U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson (R-MO) announced she is resigning after winning re-election to take a position with the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, which lobbies for electric utility companies. She will step down in February and a special election will be held to fill the seat. (New York Times)
- Plum Book published in print, digital formats: The Plum Book published by the Government Printing Office is out for the first time in both print and digital formats. The book details government positions by agency, pay grade, appointment type, and more. (Government Executive)
- Diminishing line between think tanks and government: In the wake of Gen. David Petraeus' resignation as head of the CIA, reports show an increasingly thin line between think tanks and government. Several think tank scholars had close relationships with Petraeus, including spending time with him in Afghanistan. (Washington Post)
2Day in #OpenGov 12/3/12
NEWS ROUNDUP:
- Congress polls low on honesty: People have a better view of the U.S. Congress' honesty this year than they did last year, but more than half still have a negative view of congressional ethics and honesty. (POLITICO)
- Staffer falls less than $2 short of disclosure: A Senator's deputy chief of staff had a salary that put her $1.12 under the bar for disclosure. Her husband is running for lieutenant governor of Virginia. (Washington Post)
- Lawmakers head to K Street: Several of the lawmakers leaving the hill - whether through retirement or losing a bid for reelection - are headed to K Street to join the lobbying world. Departing House members will technically have to wait one year to lobby their former colleagues, and former Senators are supposed to wait two years. (POLITICO)
2Day in #OpenGov 11/30/12
NEWS ROUNDUP:
- SEC change buoys hope for disclosure: The departure of Mary Schapiro as head of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has raised hopes among those who want the agency to force disclosure of political activities by publicly traded companies. They are hopeful the new SEC head will be more open to the reform. (The Hill)
- Presidential appointments announced: Some of President Barack Obama's intended appointments have been announced. Among those intended appointees is Ambassador Nancy Soderberg, who Obama would like to appoint as chairwoman of the Public Interest Declassification Board. (The Hill)
- NASA using Ideascale to revamp website: NASA is using Ideascale to gather ideas for redesigning its website. The idea with the most votes is to make more raw data available to the public. (FCW)
2Day in #OpenGov 11/29/12
NEWS ROUNDUP:
- Lawmakers duel over music royalties: A House Judiciary Committee hearing made it clear lawmakers have different ideas about what kind of reform should happen with royalties music-streaming websites pay recording companies and artists. They did agree, however, that royalty fees should be paid for songs played on traditional radio stations. (The Hill)
- Issa considers two-year ban on Internet regulations: U.S. Rep. Darrel Issa (R-CA) is asking for input on a bill that would place a two-year ban on any new Internet regulations, with an exception for national security emergencies. (The Hill)
- Report finds Reyes probably misused funds: A House Ethics Committee report found reason to believe U.S. Rep. Silvestre Reyes (D-TX) violated campaign finance rules or law by having campaign events on House property, among other things. (Roll Call)
2Day in #OpenGov 11/28/12
NEWS ROUNDUP:
- Earmarks ban appears set to stick in House and Senate: It looks like the ban on earmarks will continue in the House and Senate. House and Senate Republicans have approved the bans, and Senate Democrats may follow that lead. (Roll Call)
- GSA launches dashboard: The General Services Administration (GSA) has launched a dashboard that will share more information on federal IT spending. (Federal Times)
- Obama signs extended whistleblower protections: President Barack Obama signed into law a bill that extends whistleblower protections to more federal workers, including those in the TSA. (Government Executive)
Transparency and the Obama Presidency: Looking Back and Looking Forward
The Advisory Committee on Transparency will host an event on transparency in President Barack Obama's administration on Monday, December 3 at 2:00 pm in the Rayburn House Office Building, room 2237. When President Obama took office in 2009 he pledged to lead the most transparent administration in history. During his first term, he issued the Open Government Directive, set a new course for FOIA, and led the creation of the Open Government Partnership. At the same time, many observers have criticized the administration for lacking openness or failure to follow through in a number of important areas. We are pleased to host a panel discussion on the evolving norms and behaviors of the Obama administration toward transparency. A panel of experts will explain how the transparency landscape has changed over the past four years. They will also look ahead at prospects for further advances and possible impediments to future progress in the Obama administration's second term. Panelists:
- Anne Weismann: Chief Counsel, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington
- Hudson Hollister: Executive Director, the Data Transparency Coalition
- Josh Gerstein (Invited): White House Reporter, POLITICO
- Moderator Daniel Schuman: Policy Counsel at the Sunlight Foundation and Director of the Advisory Committee on Transparency
We hope you can join us. Please RSVP to http://snlg.ht/ACTobama
The Advisory Committee on Transparency educates policymakers on transparency-related issues, problems, and solutions and shares ideas with members of the Congressional Transparency Caucus. It hosts events to discuss important and wide-ranging transparency policy issues with experts from a variety of backgrounds and develops educational publications and provides timely information to the public and members of Congress. Learn more at http://transparencycaucus.org.
Continue reading2Day in #OpenGov 11/27/12
NEWS ROUNDUP:
- House ethics committee investigating New York lawmaker: The House Ethics Committee is investigating U.S. Rep. Michael Grimm (R-NY) for allegedly violating campaign finance laws. The Committee will defer, however, to the Department of Justice's investigation into the matters. (Washington Post)
- Supreme Court declines hearing on bribery conviction: The U.S. Supreme Court denied a request to hear an appeal in the case of former U.S. Rep. William Jefferson (D-LA). The former lawmaker was convicted of a bribery scheme and is serving a 13-year prison sentence. (Roll Call)
- SEC Chair leaving: Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chairwoman Mary Schapiro is leaving her position in December. She is one of the longest serving SEC chairs. Elisse Walter will fill the position. (Government Executive)
2Day in #OpenGov 11/26/12
NEWS ROUNDUP:
- Jackson resigns amid federal probe: U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-IL) resigned from Congress citing health issues and an ongoing federal probe into alleged misuse of campaign funds. (Roll Call)
- NSA denies FOIA request: The National Security Administration (NSA) denied a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request by watchdog group EPIC. The group had asked NSA to share a Presidential Directive that sets standards related to how the federal government handles cybersecurity. (Government Security News)
- Air Force, National Guard FOIA policy may violate law: The Air Force and National Guard may have violated federal law by setting a policy requiring information be released in PDF or image-based file format, which limits the accessibility of the documents. That may go against federal law requiring documents be released in the manner requested by the person or group filing a FOIA request. (Army Times)
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