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AI and Emerging Technology, Appropriations, Congressional Security, Ethics and Influence, Modernization, Rules, First Branch Forecast

Forecast for September 24, 2018. Congress’ Staff Capacity Problem, Plus the Library of Congress Started Publishing CRS Reports.

By DanielSchuman September 24, 2018 8 min read

THE TOP LINE Rules reform is the topic of a Congressional Transparency Caucus event on Thursday at 2 in Rayburn 2456 entitled “Playing by the House Rules.” RSVP here. Rep. Quigley will make opening remarks. Panelists include Daniel Schuman, Demand Progress; Meredith McGehee, Issue One; Matt Glassman, GAI at Georgetown; Molly Reynolds, Brookings Institution. For more, we […]

Tags: Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress, Inspector General, Foreign Lobbying, Caucus Rules, Cybersecurity, press freedom

Congressional Security, Congressional Workplace Fairness and Inclusion, Ethics and Influence, Rules, First Branch Forecast, Blog posts

Forecast for September 10, 2018. Legislative Branch Appropriations and Conference Rules.

By DanielSchuman September 10, 2018 10 min read

TOP LINE The Leg Branch minibus conference report may get a House floor vote this week; there was an actual, real-life conference committee last week. Here’s what’s in the House and Senate bills. — As a bonus (& thanks to Tim Ryan), the House plumped down $8.8m for intern pay in the amended legislation (text is unavailable), a big step forward to opening up the […]

Tags: Congressional Research Service, Freedom of Information Act, Staff Pay, Caucus Rules, social media, Cybersecurity, press freedom

Appropriations, Congressional Workplace Fairness and Inclusion, Ethics and Influence, Rules, First Branch Forecast, Blog posts

Forecast for September 4, 2018. Appropriations Bills and SCOTUS Nomination Are Moving Forward Quickly.

By DanielSchuman September 4, 2018 13 min read

THE TOP LINE Appropriations. House and Senate appropriators have moved their bills faster than usual, but time is running out. Only eight legislative days remain for the House and sixteen days for the Senate to reach agreement and enact them before the fiscal year starts on Oct. 1. The action will be on the floor, in the House Rules committee, […]

Tags: Diversity and Inclusion, SCOTUS, social media, Government Publishing Office

Congressional Workplace Fairness and Inclusion, Ethics and Influence, Modernization, First Branch Forecast, Blog posts

Forecast for August 27, 2018. Rest in Peace Senator John McCain.

By DanielSchuman August 27, 2018 16 min read

TOP LINE Senator John McCain has died. We wish him fair winds and following seas and offer condolences to his family. — McCain Senate Office Building? In his tweets commemorating the life of Sen. McCain, Sen. Schumer said he would introduce a resolution to rename the Russell Senate Office Building after McCain. Richard Russell was a Democratic lion of […]

Tags: Transparency in Government Act, Legislation, Science & Tech, Staff Pay

Accountability and Oversight, Congressional Security, Ethics and Influence, First Branch Forecast, Blog posts

Forecast for August 20, 2018. How Effective Exactly Are Lawmakers?

By DanielSchuman August 20, 2018 10 min read

LEGISLATIVE CAPACITY, PROCESS, AND POLITICAL SCIENCE Put down the popcorn, congressional hearings aren’t pure theater. An analysis of over 120 hearings found that witness testimony tended to be fairly balanced and sophisticated. That said, we have concerns that the methodology: using complex language doesn’t mean the arguments are strong, and having competing viewpoints should not suggest full […]

Tags: social media, Cybersecurity, press freedom

Congressional Workplace Fairness and Inclusion, Ethics and Influence, Modernization, Rules, First Branch Forecast, Blog posts

Forecast for August 13, 2018. While #MeToo Stalls in Congress, SCOTUS Nomination Hearings Move Forward.

By DanielSchuman August 13, 2018 6 min read

THE TOP LINE Rep. Collins was arrested for insider trading every news outlet on earth reported, but that’s not the most interesting part. Multiple news outlets described what happened as Speaker Ryan stripping Collins of his committee membership. He didn’t. Curious? Read my dive into the Speaker’s power to police member behavior and what that means for policy dissenters. […]

Tags: SCOTUS, Science & Tech, press freedom, white

Ethics and Influence, Reports & Analysis

What Does Rep. Collins’ Exit Say About the Speaker’s Power to Police Member Behavior?

By DanielSchuman August 12, 2018 6 min read

Rep. Collins was arrested for insider trading every news outlet on earth reported, but that’s not the most interesting part. Immediately after his arrest, Speaker Ryan released a statement that said, in passive voice, “Until this matter is settled, Rep. Collins will not be serving on the House Energy and Commerce Committee.” Multiple news outlets described what […]

Tags: House, Congressional Ops, Leadership

Accountability and Oversight, Appropriations, Congressional Workplace Fairness and Inclusion, Ethics and Influence, First Branch Forecast, Blog posts

Forecast for August 6, 2018. Transparency Bills Are Stuck and the Clock Is Ticking.

By DanielSchuman August 6, 2018 6 min read

TICKING CLOCK ON TRANSPARENCY BILLS The House and Senate have about a dozen good government and transparency bills that have widespread support, have advanced through the chambers, but are now stuck for no apparent (or good) reason. Here’s four of them: — The Access to Congressionally Mandated Reports Act (HR 4631), which requires all mandated agency reports […]

Tags: Access to Congressionally Mandated Reports Act, Office of Congressional Ethics, Legislation, NDAA, Political Violence, press freedom

AI and Emerging Technology, Appropriations, Congressional Workplace Fairness and Inclusion, Ethics and Influence, Modernization, First Branch Forecast, Blog posts

Forecast for July 30, 2018. Congressional Pay Study, plus Congress’ Official Intranet, DemCom, is New and Improved.

By DanielSchuman July 30, 2018 10 min read

TOP LINE — Appropriations will continue to dominate Congressional attention even as the House goes into recess, with another minibus teed up in the Senate this week and President Trump threatening to shut down the government. The House has scheduled 19 sessions days before the November election; only 11 before the end of the fiscal […]

Tags: press freedom, social media, Legislation, PRESS Act, Diversity and Inclusion, Staff Pay

Accountability and Oversight, Appropriations, Congressional Workplace Fairness and Inclusion, Ethics and Influence, First Branch Forecast, Blog posts

Forecast for July 23, 2018. Appropriations in the Spotlight, Plus Whistleblower Cases Have Doubled Over the Last Five Years.

By DanielSchuman July 23, 2018 8 min read

THE TOP LINE The Committee on House Administration is the focus of several conversations. — 30 good government organizations asked House Admin to send the Access to Congressionally Mandated Reports Act to the floor before the recess. The Committee voted to report the measure three months ago but has not actually reported the bill as part of a […]

Tags: Whistleblower Protections, Congressional Transparency Caucus, Legislation, Diversity and Inclusion, Access to Congressionally Mandated Reports Act, Library of Congress, Congressional Research Service

Accountability and Oversight, Congressional Workplace Fairness and Inclusion, Ethics and Influence, First Branch Forecast, Blog posts

Forecast for July 16, 2018. Library of Congress Plan for Publishing CRS Reports Falls Short.

By DanielSchuman July 16, 2018 9 min read

THE TOP LINE The sixth annual Congressional Legislative data and transparency conference, which took place this past week, was a big success. the hits: the Clerk’s office unveiled Ask Alexa for legislative info (and requested ideas for additional inquiries); GPO revealed an API for almost-all info on govinfo; GPO launched the Legislative Innovation Hub website to support collaboration on transparency and tech; […]

Tags: Library of Congress, Inspector General, Diversity and Inclusion, Legislation

Accountability and Oversight, Ethics and Influence, Reports & Analysis

Congressional Transparency Caucus Briefing: Shining a Light on Foreign Lobbying

By DanielSchuman July 13, 2018 2 min read

The Congressional Transparency Caucus will host a briefing on foreign lobbying on July 25th at 2pm in Rayburn 2456. RSVP here. Rep. Mike Quigley will be giving opening remarks. Panelists will include: Carrie Levine, Senior Political Reporter, Project on Public Integrity Lydia Dennett, Investigator, Project on Government Oversight (POGO) Daniel Schuman, policy director, Demand Progress Action Tom […]

Tags: House, Foreign Lobbying, Legislation, Congressional Transparency Caucus

Forecast for September 24, 2018. Congress’ Staff Capacity Problem, Plus the Library of Congress Started Publishing CRS Reports.

Forecast for August 27, 2018. Rest in Peace Senator John McCain.

Forecast for August 13, 2018. While #MeToo Stalls in Congress, SCOTUS Nomination Hearings Move Forward.

What Does Rep. Collins’ Exit Say About the Speaker’s Power to Police Member Behavior?

Forecast for August 6, 2018. Transparency Bills Are Stuck and the Clock Is Ticking.

Forecast for July 23, 2018. Appropriations in the Spotlight, Plus Whistleblower Cases Have Doubled Over the Last Five Years.

Forecast for July 16, 2018. Library of Congress Plan for Publishing CRS Reports Falls Short.

Congressional Transparency Caucus Briefing: Shining a Light on Foreign Lobbying

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