Here is Thursdays look at transparency-related news items, todays congressional committee hearings, transparency-related bills introduced in Congress, and transparency-related events.
News Roundup:
- Regulations responding to the Wisconsin Right to Life v. FEC decision have resulted in significantly fewer disclosures for campaign issue ads. (The Washington Post)
- Independent expenditures by the Tea Party Express group have resulted in primary losses for the establishment candidate in two high profile Republican Senate primaries. (Open Secrets)
- The Securities and Exchange Commission issued guidelines telling its staff to narrowly use FOIA exemptions granted to the agency by the new financial regulation law. (The New York Times)
- Dow Jones Newswires discussed the SEC/FOIA debate. (Fox Business)
- National Journal looked at the changes facing congressional committees should the Republicans take control of Congress this fall. (National Journal)($)
- Also in preparation for a GOP takeover, top Republicans on the House Energy and Commerce Committee met with energy and telecom lobbyists and reportedly asked for campaign contributions. (Politico)
- OMB Watch listed their hoped-for priorities for incoming Office of Management and Budget head Jack Lew to make government spending more transparent. (OMB Watch)
- The bank at the center of Rep. Maxine Waters’ (D-CA) ethics investigation received $12 million in Treasury Department funds despite having a known poor record. (The Hill)
Relevant committee hearings scheduled for 9/16:
- Legislative Proposals to Address Concerns Over the SECs New Confidentiality Provision, House Committee on Financial Services, Thursday, Sept. 16, 10:00 am, 2128 Rayburn, livestream.
Relevant bills introduced:
- S. 3791 – A bill to require Members of Congress to disclose delinquent tax liability, require an ethics inquiry, and garnish the wages of a Member with Federal tax liability; read the first time.
Transparency events scheduled for 9/16:
- The Supreme Court: Past and Prologue: A Look at the October 2009 and October 2010 Terms, the Cato Institute, Thurs. Sept. 16, 10:00 am 7:00 pm, F.A. Hayek Auditorium,1000 Massachusetts Ave., NW.
- Poverty and Income in 2009: A Look at the New Census Data and What the Numbers Mean, the Brookings Institute, Thursday, Sept. 16, 2010, 2:30 pm 4:00 pm, Reserve Officers Association of the United States, One Constitution Avenue, NE.
