Advisory Committee on Transparency

Here is Monday's look at the week's transparency-related news items, congressional committee hearings, transparency-related bills introduced in Congress, and transparency-related events.

News Roundup:

• Get a look at the 2010 revenues for major lobbying groups as compared to their 2009 revenues. (The Hill)
• A new government database that tracks contractor misconduct and performance, previously available only to federal officials, is expected to be made public by April 15. (Government Executive)
• While the Senate is still far from agreement on how to change filibuster rules, there has been some bipartisan cooperation in working towards ending secret holds and streamlining the confirmation process. (Politico)
• The Senate remains in limbo as Majority Leader Reid and Minority Leader McConnell continue to be unable to come to an agreement about committee ratios. (Roll Call $)
• Roll Call identified ten Members to watch in the 112th Congress including Reps. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) and Fred Upton (R-MI) as well as Sens. John Barrasso (R-WY) and Patty Murray (D-WA). (Roll Call $)
• Consumer Watchdog asked Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) to bring Google CEO Eric Schmidt before the Oversight committee to investigate whether Google has benefited inappropriately from ties to the administration. (Politico)
• Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-UT), chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committees National Security, Homeland Defense and Foreign Operations Subcommittee, hopes to cut costs by decreasing the number of advisory committees. (Federal Computer Week)
• As the new chairman of the Judiciary Commitee's Intellectual Property, Competition, and the Internet panel, Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) plans to target net neutrality, patent reform and copyright enforcement. (Politico)
• NASA, the White House, and the Army get top scores for digital media competence, while the General Services Administration is challenged and Interior and Commerce departments are feeble, according to a recent study. (Federal Computer Week)
• The Securities and Exchange Commission has been remiss in posting reports by its inspector general that probe employee behavior in such areas as conflicts of interest, misuse of travel funds and retaliation against whistleblowers. (Government Executive)
• Daniel Mulhollan, director of the Congressional Research Service at the Library of Congress, will retire in April. (Roll Call $)
• Melanie Sloan has changed her mind and decided to remain Executive Director of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington rather than join Clinton administration lawyer Lanny Davis in a private law firm. (Roll Call $)
• Politico's daily debate today focuses on the conflict surrounding Scalia's potential conflict of interest caused by his choice to speak at a Tea Party Caucus event. (Politico)
• Talk radio is having a huge impact on the way Congress operates based on how many listeners hear the message of major radio personalities. (Roll Call $)
• Opinion: Rep. Henry Waxman claims that if done correctly, congressional oversight can improve the way all levels of government operate. (Politico)
• Opinion: Sen. Mike Enzi suggests that ending the filibuster would be a serious blow to the democratic process. (Politico)
• Opinion: Sen. Claire McCaskill emphasizes the importance of getting rid of secret holds. (Huffington Post)