“USAspending.gov is pleased to announce the availability of its data in an Application Programming Interface (API). The API consists of two methods, fpds.php and faads.php, that allow access to the data to the Federal contracts and Federal assistance databases respectively. All data present on USAspending.gov is available through the API, except for pie charts and… Continue Reading
Accurate, Focused Research on Law, Technology and Knowledge Discovery Since 2002
Monthly Archives: February 2008
ACLU: Bush Budget Kills FOIA Ombudsman
ACLU Blog: “…the Open Government Act of 2007, a bill that enjoyed broad bipartisan support in Congress…called for the appointment of a FOIA ombudsman, to work out of the National Archive, who would serve as an impartial mediator between citizens and the government agencies receiving their FOIA requests…Agencies would be held to the FOIA standards… Continue Reading
Full Committee Hearing on The Mitchell Report: The Illegal Use of Steroids in Major League Baseball, Day 2
Preliminary Transcript of Mitchell Report: The Illegal Use of Steroids in Major League Baseball, Day 2, February 14, 2008, “Note: This is a preliminary transcript of a Committee Hearing. It has not yet been subject to a review process to ensure that the statements within are appropriately attributed to the witness or member of Congress… Continue Reading
New CRS Report: How Large is China's Economy? Does it Matter?
How Large is China’s Economy? Does it Matter? Wayne M. Morrison and Michael F. Martin, Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division, February 13, 2008 [via IWS Documented News Service] Summary: “China’s rapid economic growth since 1979 has transformed it into a major economic power. Over the past few years, many analysts have contended that China… Continue Reading
The Federal Reserve's Tools for Responding to Financial Disruptions
Governor Frederic S. Mishkin At the Tuck Global Capital Markets Conference, Tuck School of Business, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, February 15, 2008 “In recent months, the Federal Reserve has faced a more difficult policy environment as a result of disruptions to the financial markets. We have attempted to address the resulting challenges by using… Continue Reading
Treasury International Capital Data for December
“Treasury International Capital (TIC) data for December are released today…Net foreign purchases of long-term securities were $56.5 billion…Net foreign purchases of long-term U.S. securities were $69.1 billion. Of this, net purchases by foreign official institutions were $35.8 billion, and net purchases by private foreign investors were $33.3 billion. U.S. residents purchased a net $12.6 billion… Continue Reading
Pew Survey: Economic Discontent Deepens as Inflation Concerns Rise
The Pew Research Center for the People and the Press: “Public views of the U.S. economy, already quite negative, have plummeted since January. Just 17% currently rate the nation’s economy as excellent or good, down from 26% last month. The percentage of Americans rating the economy as “poor” has increased even more dramatically, from 28%… Continue Reading
EPA OIG: Office of Air and Radiation Needs to Improve Compliance with Audit Followup Process
08-P-0080 EPAs Office of Air and Radiation Needs to Improve Compliance with Audit Followup Process [Report PDF – 20 pages] [At a Glance PDF] “Audit followup is essential to good management and improving the efficiency and effectiveness of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) programs and operations. EPA has audit followup procedures and designated officials who… Continue Reading
FTC Releases Report Examining Laws That Apply Differently to the U.S. Postal Service and its Private Competitors
“The Federal Trade Commission today issued a report entitled Accounting for Laws that Apply Differently to the United States Postal Service and its Private Competitors (118 pages, PDF), which fulfills its requirement under the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act (PAEA). The report identifies and quantifies to the extent possible the Postal Services economic… Continue Reading
British Ministry of Justice Study: Diversity and Ethnic Fairness in the Jury System
Diversity and Ethnic Fairness in the Jury System, Cheryl Thomas with Nigel Balmer, Ministry of Justice, June 2007. Jur-E Bulletin: “The study was completed in June of 2007 but is now available online. The study is 244 pages long and has a number of findings. However, two of the key points are that the juror… Continue Reading
SEC Proposes Plain English Narrative Disclosure by Investment Advisers to Investors
Press release, February 13, 2008: “The Securities and Exchange Commission today voted unanimously to propose rule amendments requiring investment advisers to prepare and deliver to clients and prospective clients a narrative brochure written in plain English. Brochures would be made available to the general public through the SEC sponsored Investment Adviser Public Disclosure Web site.… Continue Reading
Imperiled Treasures: How Recent Supreme Court Decisions and Agency Actions Have Endangered Southwest Waters and Wildlife
National Wildlife Federation: “For thirty years the federal Clean Water Act broadly protected waters in the nation and across the Southwest. It sought, with a great deal of success, to safeguard important waters from pollution and destruction. Historically, it applied to waters from the Rio Grande to playa lakes. However, now the protections of the… Continue Reading
