Here is Wednesdays look at transparency-related news items, todays congressional committee hearings, transparency-related bills introduced in Congress, and transparency-related events.

News Roundup:

• Supreme Court news:
  • At her confirmation hearing yesterday, Elena Kagan said it would be a terrific thing to have cameras broadcast Supreme Court proceedings. (The Washington Post)
  • The Supreme Court yesterday upheld a soft money ban by declaring that the McCain-Feingold campaign finance law was compatible with its Citizens United ruling. (The New York Times)
  • In an editorial, the Washington Post expressed concern that a Supreme Court ruling upholding a Washington state law disclosing the names of petition signers still allows that disclosure to be blocked on a case-by-case basis. (The Washington Post)

• A Government Accountability Office report says that much of the stimulus data reported on Recovery.gov is unclear or incomplete. (Federal Times)
• In response to criticism, the Department of Defense has expanded its open government website and plan. (InformationWeek)
• The Project On Government Oversight urged congress to reconsider amendments offered by Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) to the financial regulation bill that would improve data standards for financial reporting. (Project On Government Oversight)
• Over the past seven years, BP North America has repeatedly violated BP’s corporate code of making no political contributions. (The Washington Post)
• In an editorial, the New York Times criticized spending by the telecom industry on lobbying against broadband regulation and cited Sunlight Foundation data. (The New York Times)

Relevant committee hearings scheduled for 6/30:

• Interagency Contracts (Part II): Management and Oversight, Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Ad Hoc Subcommittee on Contracting Oversight, Wednesday June 30, 2:30 p.m., 342 Dirksen, Live Stream

Relevant bills introduced 6/28, 6/29:Senate:

• None

House:

• A bill to amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to prohibit any registered lobbyist whose clients include foreign governments which are found to be sponsors of international terrorism or include other foreign nationals from making contributions and other campaign-related disbursements in elections for public office; to the Committee on House Administration. H.R. 5609
• A bill to establish a National Rape Kit Database; to the Committee on the Judiciary. H.R. 5640

Transparency events scheduled for 6/30:

• None