Here is Friday’s look at transparency-related news items, congressional committee hearings, transparency-related bills introduced in Congress, and transparency-related events. News Roundup:
- House ethics investigators are looking into why the House Financial Services Committee did not turn over all documents relevant to its investigation of subcommittee chairwoman Maxine Waters. (Washington Post)
- Incoming House Leaders lay out rules changes at a press conference; they changes will be considered by the Republican conference this upcoming Wednesday. (Washington Post) (New York Times)
- Dan Lungren (R-CA) will chair the House Administration Committee. (Roll Call $) (Boehner Press Release)
- 2 Super-PACs raised $70 million since spring. (Washington Post)
- Charlie Rangel censured 333-79. (Politico)
- H. Approps committee’s new digs a sign of less influence? (Politico)
- S. Republican Conference Chairman Lamar Alexander will lay out GOP agenda Friday. (Roll Call $) (Watch video from the Hudson Institute) (Text of Speech)
The Decline of Private Laws
Sunlight's Policy Intern, Melanie Buck, wrote the following article.
Because of a quirk in the law, Adela Bailor was ineligible for compensation for the brutal attack she suffered at the hands of a felon in federal custody. A court concluded that it had no power to hold the government responsible for her attack, even while noting her case “raise[d] serious questions about the moral responsibility of the government to protect its citizens.” In its opinion, the court suggested that she had one last resort: Congress.
Congress has the power to enact “private laws,” a type of legislation narrowly targeted to provide benefits to specifically identified individuals (including corporate bodies) when “no other remedy is available.” Claims of ill treatment and unfair circumstances have prompted many of the 107 proposed private laws currently pending in Congress.
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Continue readingKnowing Who Your Rep. Is Working For
This morning The Hill newspaper reports that K street is “scouring the ranks of lawmakers facing tough reelection races or... View Article
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The Office of Law Revision Counsel has just launched a pilot project to make updates to the U.S. Code available... View Article
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