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    Simple Steps for Super Committee Transparency

    Roll Call carries op-eds today from the Ripon Society and Heritage debating the merits of Super Committee transparency. Ripon’s Lou Zickar thinks the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction would benefit from privacy. I argue that’s exactly the wrong approach for the most powerful committee in congressional history. As the … More

    New Push to Make ‘Super Committee’ Operate in the Open

    The newly formed Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction has its 12 members, but beyond that there’s little known about how exactly it will operate. Congressional leaders have promised transparency of its deliberations. And as of now, though, only the first meeting and final report are required to be publicly … More

    Senators Want Joint Committee’s Meetings Aired on TV, Open to Public

    A half-dozen Republicans are lobbying Senate leaders to make the newly created Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction transparent in its operations and accessible to the American public. Their proposal includes public attendance at meetings and live television broadcasts. In a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and Minority … More

    5 Transparency Ideas for the New Joint Committee on Deficit Reduction

    Upon taking control of the U.S. House in January, Republicans implemented sweeping reforms to make the People’s House more transparent and accessible. Now they’ll have a chance to bolster their good-government credentials with the newly created Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction. Twelve lawmakers from the House and Senate will … More

    House Won’t Provide 72 Hours to Review Budget Control Act

    Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) repeatedly criticized Democrats last year for voting on legislation that members didn’t have time to read. “Read the Bill” language was even included in the GOP’s Pledge to America to ensure lawmakers would have adequate notice to review legislation. “Neither members of Congress or the public … More

    Scribecast: Rep. Darrell Issa Discusses Operation Fast and Furious

    Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) says the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee is finally “beginning to break down the walls of silence and refusal” from the Obama administration about the Operation Fast and Furious scandal. As its chairman, Issa has doggedly pursued answers on the illegal gun trafficking operation run by the Bureau … More

    Sen. Jeff Sessions Introduces Debt Limit Transparency Measure

    Today, Senator Jeff Sessions (R-AL) introduced legislation to force seven calendar days of transparency before any debt limit deal is passed by the Senate. The measure is in the form of a point of order and reads as follows: It shall not be in order in the Senate to proceed … More

    White House Silent on Obamacare Transparency Bill

    A freshman congressman has offered legislation that would make the extensive federal rulemaking process associated with the new Obamacare law dramatically more transparent. The bill would also give Congress a stepped-up oversight role as federal agencies begin drafting rules to implement the law, which will go fully into effect by … More

    Senator Ron Johnson Objects To “Business As Usual”

    Yesterday, Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI) took to the Senate floor to fight against secrecy in budget talks and out of control spending.  Transparency may be dead in debt limit talks, but if heroes like Senator Johnson pledge to use the two most important words in the Senate dictionary–“I Object”–to shut … More

    Top 10 Reads: June 27, 2011

    Catching you up on clips, commentary and news of the day. Sign up for the daily email update from Scribe. Transparency Win? Secret $2.4 Trillion Debt-Hike Talks May End The Justice Department Misleads the Ninth Circuit Operation Fast and Furious: How the Obama Administration Conned the Washington Post Obama’s Medicare … More