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Category Archives: Congress

Shutdown of the Federal Government: Causes, Processes, and Effects

EveryCRSReport.com – Shutdown of the Federal Government: Causes, Processes, and Effects, December 2018: “When federal agencies and programs lack funding after the expiration of full-year or interim appropriations, the agencies and programs experience a funding gap. If funding does not resume in time to continue government operations, then, under the Antideficiency Act, an agency must… Continue Reading

Unpaid Federal Workers Owe $438 Million in Mortgage and Rent Payments This Month

Zillow Research: Federal employees who are not being paid during the shutdown and own their homes make about $249 million in monthly mortgage payments. Those who rent pay about $189 million for housing each month, according to a recent HotPads analysis. About 3,900 mortgage originations are processed each business day for loans backed directly by… Continue Reading

Employees from IRS USDA TSA calling in sick with expanded work without pay

Washington Post: “…The Trump administration last week ordered at least 30,000 IRS workers back to their offices, where they have been working to process refunds without pay. It was one of the biggest steps the government has taken to mitigate the shutdown’s impact on Americans’ lives. But IRS employees across the country — some in… Continue Reading

Copyright Office Releases “Copyright and Visual Works: The Legal Landscape of Opportunities and Challenges”

“The U.S. Copyright Office has submitted a letter to Congress detailing the results of the Office’s public inquiry on how certain visual works, particularly photographs, graphic artworks, and illustrations, are registered, monetized, and enforced under the Copyright Act of 1976. The Office sought commentary on the marketplace for these visual works, as well as observations… Continue Reading

EU At a Glance – Financial Supervision and Regulation in the US

AT A GLANCE Requested by the ECON committee Study in focus Policy Department for Economic, Scientific and Quality of Life Policies Directorate-General for Internal Policies. Author: S. HONNEFELDER, P. DELGADO CUBILLO PE 631.031 – January 2019 EN Financial Supervision and Regulation in the US – “In response to the financial crisis of 2008 and the… Continue Reading

CRS Series: Introduction to Financial Services

EveryCRSReport.com: CRS Series: Introduction to Financial Services, January 11, 2019 IN11016 – “The Congressional Research Service (CRS) has created a series providing an introduction to various financial services issues in the 116th Congress. Click on any of the titles below to access an In Focus, a two-page briefing product on issues of active and ongoing… Continue Reading

Most Border Wall Opponents, Supporters Say Shutdown Concessions Are Unacceptable

Pew: “Partisan divide on whether shutdown is ‘very serious’ problem. With the partial shutdown of the federal government in its third week, both opponents and supporters of expanding the U.S.-Mexico border wall overwhelmingly oppose making concessions to end the stalemate. A new Pew Research Center survey finds that majority of Americans (58%) continue to oppose… Continue Reading

Federal Watchdog Finds Government Ignored Emoluments Clause With Trump Hotel

NPR: “Officials leasing the Old Post Office Building for the Trump International Hotel in Washington improperly ignored the Constitution’s anti-corruption clauses when they continued to lease the government property to President Trump even after he won the White House, according to an internal federal government watchdog. The Inspector General for the General Services Administration, the… Continue Reading

House of Representatives Adopts Whistleblower and Ethics Reforms for Itself

POGO: “The House of Representatives has new rules for itself that will foster stronger accountability and ethics, and protect whistleblowers.  At the beginning of each legislative session, Congress adopts rules that cover everything from voting procedures to the names of committees to who is admitted into the halls of Congress to dress codes for Members.… Continue Reading

CRS – Can the Department of Defense Build the Border Wall?

Via FAS/Secrecy News: “If the President were to declare a national emergency in order to justify building a “wall” on the border with Mexico, there would be certain legal authorities that he could invoke to initiate construction operations. But the scope of those legal authorities is uncertain and would almost certainly trigger litigation to challenge their… Continue Reading