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

News Roundup:

• In an editorial, the New York Times urged Republicans to support campaign disclosure legislation like the DISCLOSE Act. (The New York Times)
• Labor unions and businesses are gearing up for the first post-Citizens United election season. (Roll Call)($)
• The DISCLOSE Act carve-out is a contributing factor in conservative dissatisfaction with the National Rifle Association. (Politico)
• Politico looked at the diminishing clout of the American Medical Association. (Politico)
• Rep. Thad McCotter (R-MI) spent at least $30,000 in Republican Policy Committee funds hiring a consulting firm run by his chief of staff’s brother while he was planning to kill the committee for wasting money. (Politico)
• Massachusetts lawmakers are not prominently disclosing their earmark requests. (The Boston Globe)
• House Republicans will broadcast their upcoming policy meeting with lobbyists while Democrats criticize the meeting. (The Washington Post) (The Hill)
• The Washington Post profiled Larry Brady, an aide to Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Ca) who would play a role in issuing subpoenas and investigating the Obama administration should the Republicans take back the House in November. (The Washington Post)
• Congress.org explains how fundraisers work. (Congress.org)
• The Obama administration has launched RestoreTheGulf.org, a website providing updates and data on the Gulf oil spill. (InformationWeek)
• Roll Call profiled a lobbying firm that registered an unusually high amount of clients in a short period of time. (Roll Call)($)

Relevant committee hearings scheduled for the week of 7/12-7/16:

• Preventing and Recovering Government Payment Errors, Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs – Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, Federal Services, and International Security, Thursday, July 15, 10 am, 342-Dirksen, livestream
• Responsible Contracting: Modernizing the Business of Government, Senate Committee on the Budget – Task Force on Government Performance, Thursday, July 15, 10 am, 608-Dirksen, livestream

Relevant bills introduced:

• None

Transparency events scheduled for the week of 7/12-7/16:

• Investigative Reporting in the New Media Environment, The Huffington Post Investigative Fund, Tuesday, July 13, 9:30 am – 11 am, The National Press Club 529 14th St. NW, 13th Floor, The Bloomberg Classroom, Reservations at nnottingham@press.org
• CrisisCommons Roundtable with the Private Sector: Volunteer Technology Communities – Collaboration, Lessons Learned and a Path Forward, CrisisCommons, Thursday, July 15, 12:30 pm – 2:30 pm, Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center One Woodrow at Wilson Plaza 1300 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Register here
• Bridging Cuba’s Communication Divide: Empowering Cubans through Access to New Media & Technology, The Brookings Institution, Thursday, July 15, 9 am – 10:30 am, 1775 Massachusetts Ave, NW, Register here