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:

• Democratic third party groups are closing the spending gap on their Republican counterparts in the last week before elections. (Washington Post)(Politico)
• Oversight Committee Ranking Member Issa calls for consistent data formats and reliable public access to government information to improve transparency. (Washington Examiner)
• In preparation for a party shift, lobbyists are building relationships with potential new committee chairmen. (New York Times)
• Senate Democrats plan to hold their leadership elections for the 112th Congress on November 16. (Roll Call)($)
• Representative Charlie Rangel has parted with his defense team, jeopardizing the November 15 start date for his House ethics trial. (Washington Post)
• The GSA will be moving Data.gov from agency servers to a series of remote contractor sites to free up server space and speed up public access. (The Hill)
• A GAO audit has found that valuable historical documents housed by the National Archives are at high risk for loss. (Atlanta Journal Constitution)
• Representative Barney Frank is finding late fundraising luck from some in the financial services industry while other traditional supporters have shied away. (Roll Call)($)
• The National Journal takes a look at what else $3.6 billion — the total amount spent so far by candidates in the 2010 elections — could buy. (National Journal)($)
• The new Republican money-raising strategy, largely financed by undisclosed donors, has played a major part in GOP success in the midterm elections. (Washington Times)
• American Crossroads makes a final $6 million ad buy in the final week before elections. (National Journal)($)
• The Law Librarian of Congress sits down for an interview. (Library of Congress Blog)
• An international study has found that the US ranks among the least transparent nations in its foreign aid spending. (OMB Watch)

Relevant committee hearings scheduled for 10/27:

• None

Relevant bills introduced:

• None

Transparency events scheduled for 10/27:

• Symposium on Critical Issues in Journalism, Aspen Institute, 10/27, 9:00am, U.S. Department of State, 2201 C Street NW.
• 11th Annual Legal Reform Summit, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, 10/27, 9:00am 4:30pm, 1615 H Street NW.