A bill marketed as for “transparency” appears to keep information secret from the public and gut an oversight board. Taxpayers treat a group of Representatives to an expensive Summer getaway. Cocaine.

HR 2061: “The Digital Accountability and Transparency Act (DATA) of 2013” passed the House of Representatives 388-1 on Monday, November 12, 2013. Section 3: The following information would be published on the USASpending.gov website: A “pilot program” will “consolidate reports” that agencies and companies who receive Federal Money must turn in: The agencies and companies allowed into the pilot program must be worth at least $1 billion total; there’s no limit to the number of participants. The Recovery Board would start investigating the Inspectors General:

Section 5: Expands the amount of information that can be kept secret:

• Section 3 of the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 says:

• Section 5 of the DATA Act changes it to say:

• The “information protected” under the Freedom of Information Act which the DATA Act would keep secret from the public is:

• Some information from the Privacy Act of 1974 that the DATA Act would keep secret from the public is:

• The information from the US Tax Code that the DATA Act would keep secret from the public is:

The Recovery Board investigates companies that are given government money – “recipients”. Quote by Rep. Darrell Issa, House Floor, November 18, 2013.

• The DATA Act extends the Recovery Board but lets its functions and website expire six weeks from now:

H.R. 313- which passed the House in May 2013- is attached to the end of the DATA Act.

• Limits spending on conferences to $500,000.
• Extraordinarily detailed reports required for conferences over $10,000.
• Cuts agencies’ Travel budget by at least 30%.

Congressional Travel Expenses Five Representatives and two staffers took a $179,938 six-day all expense paid-by-taxpayers trip to Singapore and Australia in Summer 2013. Representatives Discussed in This Episode Rep. Rush Holt of New Jersey was the only Representative to vote against the DATA Act.

As a scientist, I know firsthand how important scientific conferences and meetings are.  I opposed H.R. 2061, the Digital Accountability and Transparency Act, because it would cut by 30 percent the amount of travel federal employees could undertake for conferences, meetings, and other crucial events. – Rep. Rush Holt

Rep. Henry “Trey” Radel of Florida is on a leave of absence due to his proven cocaine habit. Rep. Darrell Issa represents California’s 49th district Rep. Darrell Issa of California was the main author of the DATA Act.

• Darrell Issa is the richest person in Congress in 2013. He has at least $430 million; he made $135 million in 2012 on Wall Street.
• Darrell Issa does the bidding of Big Business.

Representatives Quoted in this Episode

• Rep. Darrell Issa of California

Additional Information Sunlight Foundation blog in support of HR 2061 Music Intro and Exit Music: Tired of Being Lied To by David Ippolito (found on Music Alley by mevio) Dirty Little Secret by 54 Seconds (found on Music Alley by mevio) Cocaine by Eric Clapton Homework Watch Chasing Ice

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Jennifer Briney Podcaster

Jennifer Briney started paying attention to world events while studying in Germany in the spring of 2003 when the United States overthrew the government of Iraq. After experiencing the war from outside the United States, she started asking questions about her government. Every answer led to fifty more questions. This led to a thirst for information that she is still unable to quench.

Over the years, the feeling like she was the only person paying attention to this information was making Jen insane so in late 2012, she launched Congressional Dish in order to share the information, to have an emotional outlet for dealing with the discoveries, and to create a community of people who were interested in Congress’s effect on our lives. Congressional Dish is now her full-time career, thanks entirely to the support from our growing community of producers from all over the world.