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Daily Archives: May 9, 2012

TRAC: Fifteen New Domestic Terrorism Prosecutions Filed in February 2012

“The latest available data from the Justice Department show that in February 2012 the federal government filed charges against fifteen individuals in investigations involving domestic terrorism, an uptick from the previous month when only four such prosecutions were filed. The charges were filed in eleven cases, spanning eleven different federal judicial districts. To view recent trends in domestic terrorism enforcement, see this link.”

EPIC Stresses Need For Privacy Evaluation in Drone Testing

“In comments to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), EPIC emphasized the need for transparency and accountability in drone operations, and recommended the development of privacy protections before drones are more widely deployed in the US. The FAA Notice of Proposed Rulemaking set out proposed criteria for drone testing. Congress has tasked the FAA with facilitating… Continue Reading

Google – First Amendment Protection for Search Engine Results

Google – First Amendment Protection for Search Engine Results, April 20, 2012. Eugene Volokh and Donald M. Falk [This White Paper was commissioned by Google, but the views within it should not necessarily be ascribed to Google.] “…search engines produce and deliver their speech through a different technology than that traditionally used for newspapers and… Continue Reading

CBO's Projections of Federal Receipts and Expenditures in the Framework of the National Income and Product Accounts

CBO: “The fiscal transactions of the federal government are recorded in two major sets of accounts. One is The Budget of the United States Government, prepared by the Office of Management and Budget, which is the framework generally used by executive branch agencies and the Congress and as commonly discussed in the press. The other… Continue Reading

Accelerating Progress in Obesity Prevention: Solving the Weight of the Nation

Accelerating Progress in Obesity Prevention: Solving the Weight of the Nation, May 8, 2012: “Two-thirds of adults and one-third of children are overweight or obese. Left unchecked, obesity’s effects on health, health care costs, and our productivity as a nation could become catastrophic. The staggering human toll of obesity-related chronic disease and disability and an… Continue Reading

Insourcing Functions Performed by Federal Contractors: An Overview of the Legal Issues

CRS: Insourcing Functions Performed by Federal Contractors: An Overview of the Legal Issues – Kate M. Manuel, Legislative Attorney; Jack Maskell, Legislative Attorney, May 7, 2012 “Recent Congresses and the Obama Administration have taken numerous actions to promote “insourcing,” or the use of government personnel to perform functions that contractors have performed on behalf of… Continue Reading

CRS – Racial Profiling: Legal and Constitutional Issues

Racial Profiling: Legal and Constitutional Issues, Jody Feder – Legislative Attorney, April 16, 2012 “Racial profiling is the practice of targeting individuals for police or security detention based on their race or ethnicity in the belief that certain minority groups are more likely to engage in unlawful behavior. Examples of racial profiling by federal, state,… Continue Reading

CSIS – Political Governance and Strategy in Afghanistan

Political Governance and Strategy in Afghanistan, By Robert D. Lamb. Contributor: Brooke Shawn, Apr 30, 2012 “Afghanistan’s de facto system of governance is a politically driven “hybrid” order made up of shifting links among many different formal, informal, and illicit actors, networks, and institutions. Because its central government does not have the capacity to govern… Continue Reading

Paying Too Much for Energy? The True Costs of Our Energy Choices

Paying Too Much for Energy? The True Costs of Our Energy Choices, Michael Greenstone & Adam Looney, Brookings, May 2012 “Energy consumption is critical to economic growth and quality of life. America’s energy system, however, is malfunctioning. The status quo is characterized by a tilted playing field, where energy choices are based on the visible… Continue Reading