Finish the week strong with Friday's look at transparency-related news items, congressional committee hearings, transparency-related bills introduced in Congress, and transparency-related events. News Roundup: Government

• The Justice department is dropping their controversial rule that would allow government officials to lie about the existence of certain records in response to FOIA requests. The rule had been met with skepticism from Republican Lawmakers as well as government watchdogs. (The Hill) Last week, our own John Wonderlich wrote about the many problems with DOJ's proposed rules.
• FEC commissioners faced tough questions from members of the House Administration Committee on their lack of transparency at a hearing yesterday. A coalition of good government groups took the opportunity to call on President Obama to reform the commission and install new commissioners. (Politico)
• The SEC Inspector General found that the agency's Enforcement Division routinely destroyed preliminary investigative files that should have been retained as federal records. The investigation confirmed allegations by whistleblower and SEC Enforcement attorney Darcy Flynn. (POGO)
• The House Oversight and Government Affairs Committee favorably reported the Government Results Transparency Act, H.R. 3262, to the full House. The bill would amend the DATA Act to require agencies to post performance information on specific programs. (Government Executive)
• California shut down a government transparency website. The site was launched under Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, but hadn't been updated since he left office in January. The information is still available online, but at different locations. (Government Technology)

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

• Darrell Issa (R-CA) and Elijah Cummings (D-MD) introduced H.R. 3289, the House version of the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act, this week. The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee considered the bill this morning and reported it to the full House. (POGO)
• John Boehner (R-OH) defended the transparency of the appropriations process during his tenure as Speaker of the House, but refused to commit to open rules on 2012 spending bills. (Roll Call $)
• Representative Laura Richardson (D-CA) has sent a private letter to all 10 members of the House Ethics Committee in an attempt to convince them not to proceed with an investigation into claims that she pressured her congressional staff to engage in banned political activities. (Politico)
• Several former lobbyists came through the revolving door to join Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI) when he took control of the House Energy and Commerce Committee in January. Nine current Republican staff on the committee have been through the revolving door at some point. (Legistorm)

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

• A group of Senate Democrats has introduced a constitutional amendment that would grant Congress and the states the ability to better regulate political fundraising and spending. (Yahoo/Daily Caller)
• The Commission on Wartime Contracting successfully identified up to $60 billion in contracting related waste and fraud in Iraq and Afghanistan, held 25 hearings, released 8 reports, published detailed recommendations on how to protect against waste in the future, and operated on a bipartisan basis. So, their decision to seal internal records for 20 years is out of character and upsetting to watchdog groups. (POGO)