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:
- The Hill covered Rep. Darrell Issa’s (R-CA) report on Recovery.gov and other White House new media efforts. (The Hill)
- The American Petroleum Institute is staging citizen rallies to build grassroots opposition to potential regulations on the oil and gas industry. (The Hill) (Roll Call)($)
- OpenSectrets looked at current members of Congress and candidates that are also top beneficiaries of disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff. (OpenSectrets)
- OMB’s Office of Federal Financial Management Controller Danny Werfel discussed how data reporting efforts for the stimulus have changed the public’s standards for government transparency. (Federal News Radio)
- Sen. Kent Conrad (D-ND) is advertising a fundraiser that features no celebrities and will be held “anytime after Aug. 15, 2010, but before Sept. 10, 2010.” (The Washington Post)
- Rod Blagojevich news:
- Ethics reform has taken a backseat to the Blagojevich trial in Illinois. (The New York Times)
- In an editorial, author Scott Turnow blamed the jury’s failure to convict the former governor for bribery-related charges on the current state of campaign finance and the Citizens United decision. (The New York Times)
- A juror at the trial learned this lesson from his experience: “I might be a lobbyist after this. I’ve seen all the money they make.” (The Chicago Sun-Times)
Relevant committee hearings scheduled for 8/18:
- None
Relevant bills introduced:
- None
Transparency events scheduled for 8/18:
- None
Advisory Committee on Transparency 