Hospital Compare: “This tool provides you with information on how well the hospitals care for all their adult patients with certain conditions or procedures. This information will help you compare the quality of care hospitals provide. Talk to your doctor about this information to help you, your family and your friends make your best hospital… Continue Reading
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Monthly Archives: March 2008
Federal Benefits for Veterans and Dependents by the Department of Veterans Affairs
“A new edition of the popular handbook Federal Benefits for Veterans and Dependents by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) updates the rates for certain federal payments and outlines a variety of programs and benefits for American veterans. Most of the nation’s 24 million veterans qualify for some VA benefits, which range from health care… Continue Reading
New GAO Reports: VA Health Care, Health Insurance for College Students, Defense Space Activities
VA Health Care: Additional Efforts to Better Assess Joint Ventures Needed, GAO-08-399, March 28, 2008 Comments on the Office of Personnel Management’s February 20, 2008 Report to Congress Regarding the Retirement Systems Modernization, GAO-08-576R, March 28, 2008 Health Insurance: Most College Students Are Covered through Employer-Sponsored Plans, and Some Colleges and States Are Taking Steps… Continue Reading
SEC OIG Audit of Student Loan Program
Office of Inspector General, Student Loan Program, March 27, 2008, Report No. 439: “The Office of Inspector General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (Commission) conducts regular audits and inspections of Agency operations to promote the effectiveness, integrity, and efficiency of the Commission. In July 2007, we received an anonymous complaint about the Commission’s Student… Continue Reading
Increasing Federal and State Cooperation and Promoting Electronic Filing Would Improve Administration of Taxes Used to Maintain the Nations Highways
Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration: Increasing Federal and State Cooperation and Promoting Electronic Filing Would Improve Administration of Taxes Used to Maintain the Nations Highways, March 24, 2008. Reference Number: 2008-40-089. “The Heavy Vehicle Use Tax is a prepaid tax the IRS collects. Combined with other Federal excise taxes, it is used to provide… Continue Reading
DOJ OIG: DEA's Control Over Weapons and Laptop Computers Follow-up Audit
Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General Audit DivisionThe Drug Enforcement Administration’s Control Over Weapons and Laptop Computers Follow-up Audit, Audit Report 08-21, March 2008 (125 pages, PDF). “In our 2002 audit we reported that the DEA had significant weaknesses in its internal controls over weapons and laptops. This follow-up audit found that while… Continue Reading
Everyone's Business: Working Towards Sustainability Through Environmental Stewardship and Collaboration, March 2008
National Advisory Council for Environmental Policy and Technology – Everyone’s Business: Working Towards Sustainability Through Environmental Stewardship and Collaboration, March 2008 (68 pages, PDF). This report focuses primarily on EPAs environmental stewardship activities and opportunities. We begin this report by offering a summary of our key recommendations, findings, and immediate action steps. We then describe… Continue Reading
NPR – Beyond Recycling: Getting to 'Zero Waste'
Getting Rid of Junk, Staying Green: “Boulder’s Center for Hard-to-Recycle Materials (CHaRM) opens its doors to one new material each year. The center takes in a variety of items, including porcelain sinks and toilets, home audio equipment and cooking oil.” Related postings on e-waste and recycling Continue Reading
FTC Staff Report, Protecting Consumers in the Next Tech-ade
News release: “The Commission has issued a staff report highlighting the challenges of consumer protection in the face of emerging and evolving technologies in the next ten years. The report summarizes the proceedings of the FTCs three-day public hearings, Protecting Consumers in the Next Tech-ade, and which will inform its consumer protection efforts in the… Continue Reading
The FTC in 2008: A Force For Consumers and Competition
News release: “Federal Trade Commission Chairman Deborah Platt Majoras today issued the FTCs 2008 Annual Report at the American Bar Associations Section of Antitrust Law Spring Meeting in Washington, DC. The FTC in 2008: A Force for Consumers and Competition, describes the agencys competition and consumer protection missions and accomplishments. The online version of the… Continue Reading
Bureau of Economic Statistics: State Personal Income 2007
State Personal Income 2007: “U.S. personal income grew 6.2 percent in 2007, down from 6.7 percent in 2006, according to preliminary estimates released today by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. On average, personal income has grown 6.2 percent for the last four years. Inflation, as measured by the national price index for personal consumption… Continue Reading
Departments of State and Homeland Security Announce WHTI Land and Sea Final Rule
“The Department of State and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced today the final rule for the land and sea portion of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI), a core 9/11 Commission recommendation. The WHTI final rule requires travelers to present a passport or other approved secure document denoting citizenship and identity for all land… Continue Reading
