Advisory Committee on Transparency

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

News Roundup:

• The Senate Ethics Committee appointed Attorney Carol Elder Bruce, a partner at K&L Gates, to serve as special counsel to investigate allegations against Sen. John Ensign (R-NV). (Roll Call $)(Politico)
• According to the Senate Ethics Committee's annual statistical report, the committee reviewed 93 allegations in 2010 but dismissed all but four cases without any public action. (Roll Call $)
• For the first time in a decade, lobbying revenues decreased last year, dropping by $104 million, or 2.9 percent. (Roll Call $)
• Ranking Member Elijah Cummings is sending letters to many of the same entities that Chairman Issa approached in December, saying that he feels he needs to contact them himself since Republicans have not been willing to share the responses they have received. (Politico)
• "Web 3.0" is a term that has been popping up in the state and local government IT communities. While it has not yet been determinatively defined, the general idea is online machine-to-machine communication. (Government Technology)
• A new study found that while the amount of constituent communication with their representatives has increased, the quality of their outreach has decreased. (Tech President)
• A new IBM report says that federal agencies face numerous challenges in implementing open government programs based on the lack of research available to guide them. (Federal Computer Week)
• Charles Barclay, one of the five listed lobbyists for the American Association of Airport Executives, will meet with several Democratic senators to discuss the Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization bill. (Politico)