As stated in the note from the Sunlight Foundation′s Board Chair, as of September 2020 the Sunlight Foundation is no longer active. This site is maintained as a static archive only.

Sunlight Foundation

Follow Us

2Day in #OpenGov 1/24/2012

by

Here is Tuesday's take on transparency-related news items, congressional committee hearings, transparency-related bills introduced in Congress, and transparency-related events. News Roundup:

Government
  • The collapse of SOPA and PIPA, after protest from the tech industry and general public last week, has opened the door for alternative legislation being proposed by Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA). (The Hill)
  • The White house announced a major addition to its data.gov efforts. Education.data.gov will target developers, teachers, and students. (Tech President)
  • Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) reported "questionable contact" by Harbinger Capital, a hedgefund invested heavily in controversial wireless start-up LightSquared, to the Senate Ethics Committee. Grassley viewed certain contact by the company as an attempt to discuss a quid pro quo. (The Hill)
Revolving Door
  • Strategic communications firm SKDKnickerbocker is bringing on some new employees direct from government service. Rachel Racusen was director of public affairs at FEMA while Noralisa Leo was an external affairs officer and deputy director at the Smithsonian. (National Journal)
  • The Governor of New Mexico, Susana Martinez (R-NM), is endorsing legislative efforts to institute a two-year ban on lobbying for ex-lawmakers. (Lobby Comply)
Lobbying
  • Google spent $3.76 million on lobbying in the fourth quarter of 2011 as it fought over online piracy laws and other major issues. The company easily outpaced its third quarter spending of $2.38 million. Throughout 2011 Google spent almost $10 million on lobbying, nearly twice the amount they spent in 2010. (AP/Yahoo)
  • The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is organizing an online lobbying blitz centered around tonight's State of the Union address. The organization is urging its members and supporters to tweet the White House and Congress to "#getserious about #jobs". (Roll Call $)
  • Lobbyists representing Egypt in Washington rapidly mobilized to provide the country with political cover after security forces raided 17 foreign-based NGO's at the end of 2011. The raids were condemned at high levels of the U.S. government. (Politico)

Continue reading

2day in #OpenGov 1/23/2012

by

Here is the week's first look at transparency-related news items, congressional committee hearings, transparency-related bills introduced in Congress, and transparency-related events. News Roundup:

International
  • The United Nations, the Inter-Parliamentary Union, and the US House of Representatives are organizing an event to promote and discuss the use of open document standards in parliaments and legislatures world-wide. (ICT Parliament)
  • The Navarra region of Spain released a draft of their new law on Transparency and Open Government. Open government groups have applauded the law for setting "new standards for Spain and internationally." (Access Info)
Government
  • Newt Gingrich came out against the SOPA and PIPA legislation on Thursday. But, his comments don't match up with previous statements that he has made about online free speech. In 2006, Gingrich argued in favor of censoring the internet in cases involving Islamic radicals. (Politico)
  • The Navy may have pressured the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry into withholding information related to water contamination at Camp Lejune. (POGO)
Lobbying
  • According to year-end reports, some of Washington's biggest lobbying shops saw their revenues decline in 2011. Gridlock in Congress combined with still-shaky economic conditions caused businesses to allocate lobbying money carefully. (The Hill)
  • Former Representative William Delahunt (D-MA) started his own lobbying firm shortly after retiring from congress. One of his first clients, the town of Hull Massachusetts, is paying his firm $15,000 per month to lobby for a project that he personally earmarked $1.7 million for when serving in Congress. (New York Times)
Campaign Finance
  • Sen. Scott Brown (R-MA) and his likely Democratic opponent Elizabeth Warren reached a tentative agreement aimed at dissuading outside groups from flooding their race with money. (Politico)
  • New federal rules allow traditional PACs and super PACs to operate under the same roof. These "hybrid" PACs can raise and spend unlimited outside money and give limited donations directly to campaigns and committees. Currently corporate and union PACs cannot become hybrids, but they are fighting for that power. (Politico)

Continue reading

2Day in #OpenGov 1/20/2012

by

Here is the week's last look at transparency-related news items, congressional committee hearings, transparency-related bills introduced in Congress, and transparency-related events. News Roundup:

Lobbying
  • A former senior tax counsel to the Super Committee is heading through the revolving door. Stephen Bailey, who has also worked for Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad (D-ND) is joining Heather Podesta & Partners next month. (National Journal)
  • House and Senate leaders, responding to pressure from the internet industry and public outcry, are postponing votes on SOPA and PIPA. (National Journal)
  • Liberal lobbyists are working hard to get their issues mentioned in President Obama's the State of the Union address. (Politico)
Campaign Finance
  • Democrats in the House of Representatives are planning to re-file the DISCLOSE Act which would require super PACs to disclose their donors. The Act passed the House in 2010, but failed to make it through the Senate. (Tampa Bay Times)
  • South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley (R), a high profile supporter of Mitt Romney, took $62,500 since 2008 from state and federal leadership PACs associated with Romney. (iWatch News)
State and Local
  • The 9th Circuit court of appeals upheld an injunction preventing the State of Washington from enforcing it's $800 limit on contributions to political action committees involved in recall campaigns. (Courthouse News)
  • The Montana Commissioner of Political Practices resigned from his office after staffers accused him of using state resources for his private law practice. (Lobby Comply)

Continue reading

2Day in #OpenGov 1/19/2012

by

Here is a look at Thursday's transparency-related news items, congressional committee hearings, transparency-related bills introduced in Congress, and transparency-related events. News Roundup:

International
  • A live talk show concerning alleged corruption among politicians in 2005 and 2006 that was scheduled to air on Slovak public television before elections was canceled because of potential "risk". (Global Voices)
  • Nigerian citizens have been protesting the recent removal of a gasoline subsidy and the subsequent rise in fuel prices. But, it was revealed yesterday that the government had been subsidizing far more fuel than was necessary. The extra fuel was tied to elaborate corruption schemes. (Sahara Reporters)
Government
  • At least four members of Congress joined major internet companies in black out their websites in protest of SOPA and PIPA yesterday. Some other members experienced website problems because of high levels of traffic being sent their way via protesting websites. (Roll Call $)
  • The Research Works Act aims to prevent publicly funded scientific research from automatically being available to the public for free. Private publishing companies are supportive of the legislation, while open-access activists are fighting it. (Miller-McCune)
Lobbying
  • Lobbying firms are beginning to release their fourth quarter revenue figures. The disclosures should continue over the next few days. (National Journal)
  • 25 Representatives and Senators have announced they will retire after this year's election, a number that is growing almost every day. K street head hunters are preparing to recruit many of these soon-to-be ex-lawmakers to high paying jobs at law and lobbying firms. (The Hill)
Campaign Finance
  • 2012 GOP presidential contenders have broken from tradition and declined to release the names of their big "bundlers". President Obama and GOP candidates, including George W. Bush and John McCain, have done so in the past. (iWatch News)
  • Massachusetts Senate candidates are taking concrete steps to limit the influence of super PACs on their race. Sen. Scott Brown (R-MA) and his opponent Elizabeth Warren are closing in on a deal that would impose expensive penalties on their respective campaigns if outside groups run ads supporting or opposing either candidate. (Roll Call $)

Continue reading

2Day in #OpenGov 1/17/2012

by

Here is a look at this week's transparency-related news items, congressional committee hearings, transparency-related bills introduced in Congress, and transparency-related events. News Roundup:

International
  • Nigeria's Attorney General and Justice Minister Mohammed Bello Adoke has been implicated in a large corruption scheme. Adoke has admitted that he owns numerous bank accounts, but denied reports that they contain millions of dollars. (Sahara Reporters)
  • Iran is continuing to put more pressure on its citizens that use the internet. The most recent restrictions include rules requiring cybercafes to install cameras and security monitoring equipment as well as collect personal information from customers. (Herdict Blog)
  • The Canadian government will attempt to lift a ban on reporting election results before polls close across the country. Opponents argue that the ban, enacted in 1938, is not compatible with the rise of the internet, social media, and mobile technology. (Tech President)
Government
  • Reps. Howard McKeon (R-CA) and Elton Gallegly (R-CA) received "VIP" loans from Countrywide Financial, according to reports. They join Edolphus Towns (D-NY) as lawmakers named in an investigation into the program run by Countrywide. A fourth House member has not yet been named. (National Journal)
  • The House of Representatives announced that it will shelve SOPA until "consensus is reached" in response to mounting criticism of the bills. PIPA, the senate counterpart, is still scheduled for a vote next week. Wikipedia, Reddit, and other major web networks are going ahead with a planned a blackout on Wednesday to protest the bills. (Gov Fresh)
Campaign Finance
  • The Republican National Committee is trying to overturn a ban on corporate cash donations to party committees and federal campaigns. They argue that, since independent groups can collect unlimited corporate donations, the ban disadvantages candidates and party committees. (Politico)
  • Rick Santorum has positioned himself as a Washington "outsider" and government reformer during his campaign for the Republican presidential nomination. But, as a member of the House and Senate his campaigns received more than $11 million from corporate and special interest PACs. (iWatch News)

Continue reading

2Day in #OpenGov 1/12/2012

by

Here is a Thursday's look at transparency-related news items, congressional committee hearings, transparency-related bills introduced in Congress, and transparency-related events. News Roundup:

International
  • WhatDoTheyKnow.com, a site dedicated to making it easier for people in the UK to make and track Freedom of Information requests, has been used to send 100,000 requests since February 2008. (MySociety)
  • Weak whistleblower protection laws and pervasive threats of retribution keep many Latin Americans from reporting corruption. The recent Central American and Dominican Republic Forum for Transparency outlined reforms that could help the situation. (Transparency International)
Government
  • Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) plans to introduce legislation to serve as an alternative to SOPA when the house comes back into session next week. The legislation will be a companion to a bill introduced in the Senate by Ron Wyden (D-OR). (National Journal)
  • The Research Works Act, introduced in the House of Representatives, could limit public access to taxpayer-funded research and provide a set-back to open access to information. (Tech President)
Campaign Finance
  • Super PACs and the candidates they support are not allowed to explicitly coordinate their activities. But, that doesn't stop them from watching, and parroting, each other's ads. (Washington Post)
  • According to a new study, four times more employees at major companies claim to have witnessed illegal contributions to public officials this year than in 2009. (Roll Call $)
  • Editorial: Congress should amend its ethics rules to require a "fundraising quiet period" during non election years. (Politico)

Continue reading

2Day in #OpenGov 1/11/2012

by

Here is a look at Wednesday's transparency-related news items, congressional committee hearings, transparency-related bills introduced in Congress, and transparency-related events. News Roundup:

Government
  • Three federal agencies are working together to create a web portal for FOIA requests. The portal will cost $1.3 million to implement and could save $200 million over five years if adopted government wide. (Fierce Government)
  • A new site, SOPA Opera, allows users to easily visualize congressional support and opposition to SOPA and the PROTECT-IP acts. (Tech President)
  • Reddit announced that they will impose a black out all day on January 18 to protest SOPA. (Yahoo/Digital Trends)
Lobbying
  • Cecilia Munoz, a former lobbyist for the National Council of La Raza who received a waiver to join the Obama administration, was promoted to director of the Domestic Policy Council. (National Journal)
  • The private equity industry has given more than $17 million to members of Congress since the start of 2007, with Democrats receiving more support than Republicans. (National Journal)
  • A former senior FCC official is joining Jenner & Block's communications practice. John Flynn previously served as a senior counsel for transactions to FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski and led the agency's review of the Comcast-NBC Universal merger. (The Hill)
State and Local
  • Los Angeles, CA hasn't updated its website in 14 years. They recently launched a beta version of their new portal, lacity.org, and are seeking public input to ensure that the site will best serve city residents. (Government Technology)
  • The Oregon Supreme Court is set to consider a campaign finance law passed by voters in 2006 that would limit individual political contributions. The former Secretary of State chose not to enforce the regulations. (Lobby Comply)

Continue reading

CFC (Combined Federal Campaign) Today 59063

Charity Navigator