“Saudi Arabia has 16% of the world’s proved oil reserves, is the largest exporter of total petroleum liquids in the world, and maintains the world’s largest crude oil production capacity. Saudi Arabia is the world’s largest holder of crude oil proved reserves and was the largest exporter of total petroleum liquids in 2013. In 2013, Saudi… Continue Reading
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Monthly Archives: September 2014
H.R. 4387, FSOC Transparency and Accountability Act
CBO – As ordered reported by the House Committee on Financial Services on June 20, 2014 “H.R. 4387 would allow all members of the governing bodies of certain agencies that are represented on the Financial Stability Oversight Council (FSOC)—the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), the Board of Governors of… Continue Reading
Federal Reserve issues FOMC statement
“Information received since the Federal Open Market Committee met in July suggests that economic activity is expanding at a moderate pace. On balance, labor market conditions improved somewhat further; however, the unemployment rate is little changed and a range of labor market indicators suggests that there remains significant underutilization of labor resources. Household spending appears… Continue Reading
10 big questions the Pew Research Center has tackled in the past decade
Andrea Caumont: “Ten years ago, the Pew Research Center was established by The Pew Charitable Trusts to bring together several of Pew’s information initiatives. The new organization had a unique mission to offer nonpartisan, non-advocacy information to decision-makers and the public. The Center has amassed a large body of work over the past decade. For our tenth anniversary, here’s… Continue Reading
Testimony of Nuala O’Connor on Open Internet Rules
“CDT President & CEO testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee on September 17, 2014. The hearing, entitled “Why Net Neutrality Matters: Protecting Consumers and Competition Through Meaningful Open internet Rules,” comes as the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) works to restore open Internet protections and has sought public comments on the best path forward.” “We believe that… Continue Reading
Is a Green Paradox Spectre Haunting International Climate Change Laws and Conventions?
Partain, Roy Andrew, Is a Green Paradox Spectre Haunting International Climate Change Laws and Conventions? (September 14, 2014). UCLA Journal of Environmental Law & Policy, Vol. 33, No. 1, 2014. Available for download at SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract=2496155 “Could the UNFCCC, and green laws in general, increase greenhouse gas emissions and thus worsen the threats and risks of… Continue Reading
Retirement Plan Landscape Stabilizing as Fewer Fortune 500 Companies Shifting Defined Benefit Plans to 401(k)s
News release: “The retirement plan landscape is stabilizing as fewer U.S. companies last year moved from defined benefit (DB) plans to offering only a defined contribution (DC) plan to new salaried employees than in any other year over the past decade, according to a new analysis by global professional services company Towers Watson (NYSE, NASDAQ:… Continue Reading
New GAO Reports – Broadcast TV and Radio, FSOC, Land Use Agreements
BROADCAST TELEVISION AND RADIO: Disclosure Requirements for Broadcasted Content, GAO-14-738: Published: Sep 17, 2014. Publicly Released: Sep 17, 2014. FINANCIAL STABILITY OVERSIGHT COUNCIL: Status of Efforts to Improve Transparency, Accountability, and Collaboration, GAO-14-873T: Published: Sep 17, 2014. Publicly Released: Sep 17, 2014. LAND-USE AGREEMENTS: Department of Veterans Affairs Needs to Improve Data Reliability and Monitoring, GAO-14-501: Published: Aug 18, 2014. Publicly Released: Sep 17,… Continue Reading
FBI Says Biometric Database has Reached “Full Operational Capability”
“The FBI announced that the Next Generation Identification system, one of the largest biometric databases in the world, has reached “full operational capability.” In 2013, EPIC filed a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit about the NGI program. EPIC obtained documents that revealed an acceptance of a 20% error rate in facial recognition searches. Earlier this year, EPIC joined a coalition of… Continue Reading
The New Climate Economy Report 2014
Better Growth Better Economy – The New Climate Economy – The Global Commission on the Economy and Climate – The Synthesis Report “All over the world, people want to achieve better lives for themselves and for their children. Governments want to secure economic growth, improve living standards, create jobs and reduce poverty. Businesses want to expand and become… Continue Reading
The Cost of Carbon – Interactive Database
“This is a living documentation of the price we are all paying for carbon pollution. Find out how you are paying, add your cost, and share with those who can help to end climate denial and put a price on carbon.” “The Cost of Carbon is the never-ending toll that carbon pollution is having on… Continue Reading
Income, Poverty and Health Insurance Coverage in the U.S.: 2013
“The U.S. Census Bureau announced today that in 2013, the poverty rate declined from the previous year for the first time since 2006, while there was no statistically significant change in either the number of people living in poverty or real median household income. In addition, the poverty rate for children under 18 declined from… Continue Reading
