A week from today, the Advisory Committee on Transparency will host a panel discussion on lobbying reform, entitled “Washington’s Lobbying Fix”, on 2pm in room 2203 of the Rayburn House Office Building. Our panel of lobbyists, experts, and journalists will discuss the current state of lobbying disclosure, evaluate the need for lobbying reform, and consider proposals for real-time lobbying disclosure.

Panelists include:

• Dan Eggen, staff writer – The Washington Post
• Shelia Krumholz, Executive Director – Center for Responsive Politics
• Lisa Rosenberg, Government Affairs Consultant – Sunlight Foundation
• Paul Miller, Chairman/CEO – Miller/Wenhold Capitol Strategies, LLC; past-President – The American League of Lobbyists
• Tom Susman, Director of Government Affairs – American Bar Association
• Moderator: Daniel Schuman, Policy Counsel – Sunlight Foundation; Director – Advisory Committee on Transparency

The discussion is open to the public. Please RSVP to ACT(at)SunlightFoundation.com. More information about the Advisory Committee on Transparency is available at http://transparencycaucus.org/. Background materials for the event are available here.

Please note that we are pleased to welcome Paul Miller to the conversation. Judging by the amount of attention this event has already received, it should be an interesting and lively conversation.

Here is a look at what happened yesterday on the Sunlight network.

• Paul Blumenthal began the day with several transparency related headlines including noting that at least 130 current congressional chiefs of staff and legislative directors are former lobbyists, details of a study that states when individuals make political donations directly benefit businesses in their communities, and more. (Sunlight Foundation Blog)
• Daniel Schuman questioned whether it is better for lobbyists to be smart or well-connected, citing a new paper entitled “Is IT Whom You Know or What You Know? An Empirical Assessment of the Lobbying Process.” (Sunlight Foundation Blog)
• Paul Blumenthal reported more on the relationship between The Monitor Group and lobbying for Libya. (Sunlight Foundation Blog)
• Scott Stadum chose Google Custom Search as his Tool for Transparency, explaining how to create a custom search engine. (Sunlight Foundation Blog)
• John Wonderlich announced the introduction of H.Res 135 by Rep. Gary Peters, a bill that would require reports on House Members’ expenditures to be posted on House.gov. (Sunlight Foundation Blog)
• Take a look at the previous day’s transparency-related news items, congressional committee hearings, transparency-related bills introduced in Congress, and transparency related events. (Transparency Caucus Blog)

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

News Roundup:

• Despite saying that he would not lobby after leaving office, former Sen. Christopher Dodd (D-CT) now says that he wouldn’t rule out the possibility of lobbying for the Motion Picture Association of America, of which he is now the head, in the future. The Hill
• Appropriator Rep. Jim Moran (D-VA) told C-SPAN’s “Washington Journal” program that appropriators’ relationships with agencies are going to be important for getting projects funded post-earmark ban. The Hill
• The Office of Management and Budget has declined to testify at Oversight and Government Reform hearings regarding redundant programs and Postal Service reform. Federal News Radio
• The National Archives and Records Administration’s mandatory self-assessment survey found that numerous agencies are struggling with data management and record keeping. Federal Computer Week
• While Medicare has developed a recovery audit program to analyze paid claims, identify overpayments, and tighten provider enrollment, it has not yet developed a process for taking corrective action once vulnerabilities are identified. Center for Public Integrity
• Republican legislation introduced yesterday would strip the Environmental Protection Agency of its ability to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. The Hill
• Lobby Comply takes a look at some of the mashups enabled by data.gov. Lobby Comply Blog

Relevant committee hearings scheduled for 3/4:

• None.

Relevant bills introduced:

• S. 474. A bill to reform the regulatory process to ensure that small businesses are free to compete and to create jobs, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
• S. 475. A bill to enact President Obama’s recommendations for program terminations; to the Committee on Appropriations.
• S. 482. A bill to amend the Clean Air Act to prohibit the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency from promulgating any regulation concerning, taking action relating to, or taking into consideration the emission of a greenhouse gas to address climate change, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
• H.R. 910. A bill to amend the Clean Air Act to prohibit the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency from promulgating any regulation concerning, taking action relating to, or taking into consideration the emission of a greenhouse gas to address climate change, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Energy and Commerce.
• H.J. Res. 46. A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to allow the several States to nullify a law or regulation of the United States; to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Transparency events scheduled for 3/4:

• None.

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

News Roundup:

• Both Reps. Crowley and Higgins from New York have signed lobbyists to “oversee their interests in the decennial remapping process.” Politico
• A new lobbying bill introduced in Nevada would require lobbyists to report their activity even when the Legislature is not in session. Lobby Comply Blog
• A new study done by the Center for Responsive Politics and Remapping Debate indicates that at least 130 current top Congressional staffers are former lobbyists. Open Secrets
• After being defeated in the last election, Rep. Herseth Sandlin, a senior whip in the House Democratic Caucus and a co-chair of the conservative Blue Dog Coalition, is heading to K St., joining OFW Law. The Hill/Roll Call
• According to a new Roll Call study, 680 campaigns have failed to file more than 900 Federal Election Commission required filings total since 2000. Roll Call $
• TechAmerica Foundation, an industry group with a record of shaping federal information technology policy, has established a cloud computing commission to advise the White House on outsourcing over $20 billion in IT services. Next Gov
• A Senate subcommittee investigation found that a quarter-million-dollar public relations contract was badly mismanaged by the General Services Administration, creating waste. Government Executive
• Transparency scorecard Tech President

Relevant committee hearings scheduled for 3/3:

• None.

Relevant bills introduced:

• None.

Transparency events scheduled for 3/3:

• None.

Reforming Congress was the subject of an Advisory Committee on Transparency panel discussion on February 14th. Rep. Mickey Edwards and Dr. James Thurber joined Daniel Schuman in a discussion of the history of efforts to reform Congress and a discussion of what can be done to help it fulfill its constitutional responsibilities. Here’s the video from the event.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVN18ZhsKks?rel=0]

Here is a look at what happened yesterday on the Sunlight network.

• Paul Blumenthal began the day with several transparency related headlines including details on some lawmakers are receiving dozens of campaign finance inquiries from the Federal Election Commission, news that former Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott is lobbying and serving as an adviser to his former colleagues, and more. (Sunlight Foundation Blog)
• Take a look at the previous day’s transparency-related news items, congressional committee hearings, transparency-related bills introduced in Congress, and transparency related events. (The Open House Project)

The Advisory Committee on Transparency will host a panel discussion on lobbying reform, entitled “Washington’s Lobbying Fix,” on March 14th at 2pm in room 2203 of the Rayburn House Office Building. Our panel of lobbyists, experts, and journalists will discuss the current state of lobbying disclosure, evaluate the need for lobbying reform, and consider proposals for real-time lobbying disclosure.

Panelists include:

• Dan Eggen, staff writer – The Washington Post
• Shelia Krumholz, Executive Director – Center for Responsive Politics
• Lisa Rosenberg, Government Affairs Consultant – Sunlight Foundation
• Tom Susman, Director of Government Affairs – American Bar Association
• Moderator: Daniel Schuman, Policy Counsel – Sunlight Foundation, and Director – Advisory Committee on Transparency

The discussion is open to the public. Please RSVP to ACT(at)Sunlightfoundation.com. More information about the Advisory Committee on Transparency is available at http://transparencycaucus.org/.