Happy June! Here is Wednesday’s look at transparency-related news items, congressional committee hearings, transparency-related bills introduced in Congress, and transparency-related... View Article
Continue readingSunrise (6/1/11)
AT&T GIFTS TO LAWMAKER NONPROFITS —Politico: “AT&T has donated hundreds of thousands of dollars over the past several years to... View Article
Continue readingBopp seconds request to FEC to allow politicians to raise funds for Super PACs
Citizens United architect and campaign finance law foe James Bopp Jr. has seconded a request by Democratic campaign finance experts Perkins Coie for the Federal Election Commission to allow politicians and party committee officials to solicit corporations and labor unions for unlimited funds to be spent by independent expenditure-only committees, also known as Super PACs. Bopp's new client, the Republican Super PAC, has already outlined such a fundraising strategy to Republican party officials.
If approved, the Perkins Coie request, made on behalf of the Majority PAC and the House Majority PAC, would give FEC approval for a politician to ...
Continue reading2Day in #OpenGov 5/31/2011
After a long Memorial Day weekend, here is Tuesday’s look at the week’s transparency-related news items, congressional committee hearings, transparency-related... View Article
Continue readingPowerful financial council could deny or delay public information
A newly created powerful federal financial council will have broad latitude to deny or delay Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests if it adopts proposed rules, charges a financial watchdog group.
Under the Dodd-Frank financial reform law, the new Financial Stability Oversight Council (FSOC), is explicity made subject to the Freedom of Information Act. The Council, whose members are representatives of major financial agencies, has authority to collect wide-ranging information about financial institutions, such as internal company documents, in its mission to ensure the stability of the financial system. In late March, the Council published proposed rules on how the ...
Continue readingDisclosure by “Political Intelligence” Firms would Shine Light on Investment Decisions
On the intersection of K Street and Wall Street lies the burgeoning “political intelligence” industry, where lobbyists, advisors and other... View Article
Continue readingSunrise (5/31/11)
EARMARKS NEVER DIE —WaPo: “When is an earmark not an earmark? It’s when House Armed Services Committee Chairman Howard “Buck”... View Article
Continue readingSunlight Weekly Round-up: FOI in Connecticut could lose credibility in new merger
In his book, The Art of Access: Strategies for Acquiring Public Records, Charles N. Davis analyzes a study by Michael... View Article
Continue reading2Day in #OpenGov 5/27/2011
Happy Friday, and enjoy the long weekend! Before you head off for Memorial Day, take a look at today’s transparency-related news items,... View Article
Continue readingFederal District Court Strikes Down Ban on Direct Corporate Contributions to Candidates
This is big news. A federal district court has struck down the ban on direct corporate contributions to candidates based... View Article
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