News release: “As part of its efforts to celebrate Earth Day during the entire month of April, the U.S Environmental Protection Agency has launched National Cell Phone Recycling Week, April 6 through April 12. This joint effort between EPAs Plug-In To eCycling program and leading cell phone manufacturers, retailers and service providers increases national awareness… Continue Reading
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Monthly Archives: April 2009
CRS: Comprehensive National Cybersecurity Initiative: Legal Authorities and Policy Considerations
Follow up to April 5, 2009 posting Senate Staff Working Draft of Cybersecurity Act of 2009, see this related CRS report: Comprehensive National Cybersecurity Initiative (CNCI): Legal Authorities and Policy Considerations, March 10, 2009 “In response to the CNCI and other proposals, questions have emerged regarding: (1) the adequacy of existing legal authoritiesstatutory or constitutionalfor… Continue Reading
Guidance to Financial Institutions on Filing Suspicious Activity Reports Regarding Loan Modification/Foreclosure Rescue Scams
FIN-2009-A001 – Issued: April 6, 2009. Subject: Guidance to Financial Institutions on Filing Suspicious Activity Reports regarding Loan Modification/Foreclosure Rescue Scams “The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) is issuing this advisory to highlight loan modification/foreclosure rescue scams so that financial institutions may better assist law enforcement when filing Suspicious Activity Reports. This guidance is consistent… Continue Reading
Federal and State Agencies Crack Down on Mortgage Modification and Foreclosure Rescue Scams
News release: “The Federal Trade Commission today announced a crackdown on fraud and deception by mortgage modification and home foreclosure rescue companies. The FTC is seeking to halt the proliferation of these mortgage relief scams which target distressed and vulnerable consumers who are delinquent or facing foreclosure through increased law enforcement, consumer outreach,… Continue Reading
CBO Monthly Budget Review, April 2009
CBO Monthly Budget Review, April 2009 “CBO estimates that the Treasury Department will report a deficit of about $953 billion for the first six months of fiscal year 2009, $640 billion more than the deficit recorded through March 2008. That estimate of this years deficit to date includes outlays of about $290 billion for the… Continue Reading
CBO – Historical Effective Federal Tax Rates: 1979 to 2006
“The following tables update the Congressional Budget Offices (CBOs) estimates of historical effective tax ratesthat is, households tax liability divided by their incomefor various income categories.1 These new tables incorporate estimates for an additional calendar year, 2006, for the four largest sources of federal revenuesindividual income taxes, social insurance (payroll) taxes, corporate income taxes, and… Continue Reading
Treasury Department Provides Updated Guidance on Legacy Securities Public-Private Investment Program
News release: “s part of an ongoing effort to refine the guidelines and enhance the effectiveness of the Financial Stability Plan programs, the Treasury Department today released additional guidance for potential investors in the securities portion of the Public Private Investment Program (PPIP). The new guidance extends the deadline for application to the program and… Continue Reading
Ford Completes Debt Restructuring Initiatives
News release: “Ford Motor Company announced today the successful completion of debt restructuring initiatives that will reduce Fords Automotive debt by $9.9 billion from $25.8 billion at December 31, 2008, and lower Fords annual cash interest expense by more than $500 million based on current interest rates…By substantially reducing our debt, Ford is taking another… Continue Reading
Treasury IG: Progress Has Been Slow in Implementing Federal Security Configurations on Employee Computers
Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, Progress Has Been Slow in Implementing Federal Security Configurations on Employee Computers, March 27, 2009, Reference Number: 2009-20-055 “IRS employees use desktop and laptop computers to perform their tax administration duties. Because taxpayers expect the IRS to protect their privacy and personal information, the security of employee computers is… Continue Reading
Controls Over the FDICs Processing of Capital Purchase Program Applications from FDIC-Supervised Institutions
FDIC OIG: March 2009, Report No. EVAL-09-004, Controls Over the FDICs Processing of Capital Purchase Program Applications from FDIC-Supervised Institutions “As of January 15, 2009, the FDIC had received 1,615 applications from FDIC-supervised institutions requesting almost $34 billion in TARP funding. The FDIC had recommended 408 applications to Treasury for approval, of which 267 had… Continue Reading
April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month
“Sexual assault takes many formsit is any unwanted sexual contact, including rape, attempted rape, and child sexual abuse. It can affect people of any gender, age, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or ability. According to the National Violence Against Women Survey, 1 in 6 American women has been the victim of rape or attempted rape […there were… Continue Reading
TRAC Report: Large Financial Service Corporations Dominate the Corporate World
“In the just-ended fiscal year, more than three quarters of the tax returns filed by the nation’s largest corporations came from financial service organizations banks, insurance companies, investment advisors, brokerage houses, securities services and the like. And the same group of businesses is credited with controlling 72% of all large-corporation assets, with earning 46%… Continue Reading
