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Sunlight Foundation: 2Day in #OpenGov 1/26/2012

Policy Fellow Matt Rumsey wrote this post.

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:

International
  • Two years after a massive earthquake devastated Haiti, the country is still dealing with the ramifications of rampant corruption on the rebuilding process. Transparency International is working to fight this corruption. (Transparency International)
  • A former Irish Senator, who became a poster boy for outrageous expense claims throughout the Irish political system, was arrested for allegedly forging receipts from a company that hasn’t existed for almost 20 years. (AP/Yahoo)

Presidential Candidates

  • New Gingrich and Mitt Romney successfully maneuvered each other into disclosing potentially embarrassing documents. This doesn’t necessarily mean that either candidate is committed to transparency in their campaigns or the government. (Fox News)
  • Tensions between Hollywood and opponents of SOPA and PIPA in Washington don’t seem to have hurt President Obama’s ability to raise money from Tinseltown. The Obama Victory Fund is hosting several fundraisers to benefit the President’s reelection campaign and the Democratic party in the coming weeks. (The Hill)
Government
  • House Democrats are expected to introduce an updated version of the DISCLOSE Act in coming days. The bill will include notable exceptions, originally aimed at placating the NRA, from its original iteration. (Huffington Post)
  • Private interests spent freely in 2011 to send members of Congress and their staff on trips. 1,600 privately funded congressional trips were worth more than $5.8 million last year. (Legistorm)
  • San Francisco is emerging as a leader in using city data to encourage programmers, activists, and companies to create solutions to make city governments more efficient and effective. (Tech President)
  • Longstanding rules on the House press gallery are changing. Journalists are allowed to use laptop computers and smart phones on a trial basis. (Gov Fresh)

Relevant committee hearings scheduled for 1/26:

House:

  • None.

Relevant bills introduced:

  • None.
Transparency events scheduled for 1/26:

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