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Monthly Archives: March 2007

British and Irish Legal Information Institute Launches New Website

Via Cynthia S. Fellows, BAILII Open Law Project: The British and Irish Legal Information Institute has a new website. New features include: Case Law Search Form, (search by citation or keyword) Legislation Search Form Other Materials Search Form (law commission reports) A-Z title browse lists Leading Cases Lists. Search results can be sorted by date,… Continue Reading

GAO Reports on Data Mining and Privacy

Data Mining: Early Attention to Privacy in Developing a Key DHS Program Could Reduce Risks GAO-07-293, February 28, 2007. “The government’s interest in using technology to detect terrorism and other threats has led to increased use of data mining. A technique for extracting useful information from large volumes of data, data mining offers potential benefits… Continue Reading

Report on Terrorism Enforcement: International, Domestic and Financial

Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC) report on Terrorism Enforcement: International, Domestic and Financial: “An analysis of timely Justice Department records shows that while there has been a sharp decline in the prosecution of individuals the government has identified as international terrorists (see earlier TRAC Terrorism report), criminal cases aimed at domestic terrorists and individuals involved… Continue Reading

Citizen Satisfaction with Federal Websites Loses Steam According to Newest Survey

Citizen Satisfaction with Federal Websites Loses Steam, according to the University of Michigan’s American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI. Key findings include: “Over the past 7 quarters, citizen satisfaction has remained relatively flat while private sector satisfaction has increased From last quarter, 49% of sites saw lower satisfaction than last quarter, while 31% had score increases… Continue Reading

Report On Patient Safety and Health Care Quality Performance of Nation's Hospitals

Press release: “Hospitals across the United States have significantly improved the quality of care provided for patients suffering from heart attacks, heart failure, or pneumonia over the past four years, according to a new report from The Joint Commission. The report details the performance of accredited hospitals against standardized national performance measures and the Joint… Continue Reading

Committee Examines Political Interference with Climate Science

Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Full Committee hearing to Examine Allegations of Political Interference with Government Climate Change Science (Part II) – [Link to Part 1]. “This hearing examined evidence and allegations of political interference with the work of government climate change scientists under the current Administration.” Documents and Links Chairman Waxman’s Opening Statement… Continue Reading

Waxman Introduces the Safe Climate Act of 2007

Press release: “Today Rep. Henry A. Waxman, together with over 125 House colleagues, introduced the “Safe Climate Act of 2007.” The legislation is based on what scientists have concluded the United States must do to avoid dangerous, irreversible warming of the planet and would significantly reduce U.S. emissions of greenhouse gases.” Summary of the Bill:… Continue Reading

Recently Released CRS Reports on Issues Including Iraq, Iran, Whistleblower Protection Act, Largest Mergers and Acquisitions by Corporation, Federal Food Safety

Iraq: Tribal Structure, Social, and Political Activities, March 15, 2007 Iraq: Post-Saddam Governance and Security — Updated, March 12, 2007 The Budget for Fiscal Year 2008, March 12, 2007 The Whistleblower Protection Act: An Overview, March 12, 2007 Iran’s Nuclear Program: Recent Developments, Updated March 8, 2007 Largest Mergers and Acquisitions by Corporations, 2006 –… Continue Reading

House Judiciary Committee Continues to Post DOJ Documents in Connection with U.S. Attorney Firings

Follow up to March 19, 2007 posting, DOJ Releases Documents in Connection With Firings of U.S. Attorneys, today the House Judiciary Committee posted additional documents, also available on the homepage, lower right hand corner. The total release comprised 3,000 pages of documents. See also White House Counsel Fred Fielding’s Letter and Offer Of Conditions to… Continue Reading

GAO's Performance Plan for Fiscal Year 2008

GAO’s Performance Plan for Fiscal Year 2008, GAO-07-421SP, March 1, 2007. “This report presents the Government Accountability Office’s (GAO) Performance Plans for Fiscal Year 2008. In the spirit of the Government Performance and Results Act, this annual plan informs the Congress and the American people about what we expect to accomplish on their behalf in… Continue Reading