Here is Tuesdays look at transparency-related news items, the todays congressional committee hearings, transparency-related bills introduced in Congress, and transparency-related events.
News roundup:
- DISCLOSE Act news:
- House Democrats have reportedly agreed to exempt the National Rifle Association and groups of a similar size and reach from campaign finance disclosure requirements in DISCLOSE Act. (Politico) (The Washington Post) (CQ Politics)($) (Roll Call)($) (OMB Watch)
- Ezra Klein and the Wall Street Journal provide blogoshpere reaction to the DISCLOSE Act news from the left and right. (The Washington Post) (The Wall Street Journal)($)
- The House Office of Congressional Ethics is investigating whether up to eight House members changed their position on the financial regulation bill based on campaign contributions. (The Hill) (The New York Times) (The Wall Street Journal)($)
- A spokesman for the House Office of Congressional Ethics said the office is not conducting random audits of House members. (Roll Call)($)
- Sen. Robert Byrd (D-WV) could stand in the way of changes to Senate rules regarding the filibuster and secret holds. (National Journal)($)
- The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has launched GeoPlatform.gov, a website where the public can monitor Gulf oil spill data. (Nextgov)
- Nuclear Regulatory Commission Commissioner William Magwood has started posting a monthly calendar detailing his meetings with utilities and non-governmental organizations. (Project on Government Oversight)
- L. Gordon Crovitz editorializes against the increased opportunities for classified government information to be leaked that websites such as Wikileaks provide. (The Wall Street Journal)($)
- As lawmakers rush to put the finishing touches on a financial regulation bill, lobbyists are complaining that they have become less accessible. (The Wall Street Journal)($)
- House Republicans today will start posting videos detailing policy ideas gathered from their crowdsourcing America Speaking Out website. (Politico)
Relevant committee hearings scheduled for 6/15:
- None
Relevant bills introduced 6/14:
- None
Transparency events scheduled for the 6/15:
- How Will Journalism Survive?, Tuesday, June 15, 9:00 a.m., National Press Club ballroom, 529 14th St. NW, 13th Floor , Washington, D.C.
- Access to the Raw Materials of Our Democracy, Tuesday, June 15, 10:00 a.m., Center for American Progress, live video here.
- Urban Transportation: Open Data, Blogging and Citizen Journalism, Government Transparency and Civic Engagement, Citizen Collaboration, Tuesday, June 15, 1:30 p.m., World Resources Institute, 10 G St. NE, Suite 800, Washington, D.C.
