Friday, January 11, 2013

Rand Paul traveling through Israel

Rand Paul traveling through Israel this week. This via Lone Star Communications press release Wednesday.

“Historically America has sought stability with very mixed results around the world by arming both sides of conflicts,” ... “I fear that one day our Israeli friends might face American-made F-16s and Abrams tanks that our foreign aid has been providing to some very questionable countries that sit on Israel’s border.”

This via Lone Star's Facebook page: Lone Star Communications is one of Israel's most dynamic public affairs and media relations consultancies. Specializing in both international and domestic media, LS is headed by Charley J. Levine.

Lone Star Communications - Jerusalem
Founder and President of the Jerusalem Institute for Market Studies Corinne Sauer welcomes US Senator Rand Paul for a private briefing to review US Foreign Aid to the Middle East

Lone Star Communications - Jerusalem
Chairman of the Bayit HaYehudi Party Naftali Bennett meets with Senator Rand Paul

Wednesday, January 09, 2013

#OpenGov: XML of House Floor Summaries Now Available in Bulk

The Office of the House Clerk today announced that House floor summaries are now available for bulk download in XML. Each House session (roughly a calendar year) is available in one bulk file, going back to the 109th Congress (2005). Click here and select the “Download XML” tab to try it out.

This project is the first of several to be rolled out in the 113th Congress that were coordinated or initiated by the Legislative Branch Bulk Data Task Force. The task force was created to expedite the process of providing bulk access to legislative information and to increase transparency for the American people. It includes the House Clerk, legislative branch agencies such as the Government Printing Office and Library of Congress, representatives from House leadership and key committees, and the House Chief Administrative Officer.

Open government is and has been a priority for House leaders. In fact, the Clerk began offering real-time updates on House floor proceedings in XML back in 2011. The feed of real-time information complemented HouseLive.gov, a new video streaming feature they set up for desktop and mobile devices. The House also began utilizing new low-cost video conferencing tools, streaming committee hearings online, working with developers and transparency advocates, and more.


Today’s announcement is yet another step in the effort to make the legislative process more open and accessible – and there are more to come. Stay tuned.

Office of the Speaker H-232 The Capitol. Washington, DC 20515. Phone: (202) 225-0600. Fax: (202) 225-5117.