PEN America – “Global Chilling: The Impact of Mass Surveillance on International Writers is a new report demonstrating the damaging impact of surveillance by the United States and other governments on free expression and creative freedom around the world. The report’s revelations, based on a survey of nearly 800 writers worldwide, are alarming. Concern about… Continue Reading
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Monthly Archives: January 2015
New GAO Report – Transportation Disadvantaged Populations
Transportation Disadvantaged Populations – Nonemergency Medical Transportation Not Well Coordinated, and Additional Federal Leadership Needed, GAO-15-110: Published: Dec 10, 2014. Publicly Released: Jan 9, 2015. “Forty-two programs across six federal departments—Agriculture, Education, Health and Human Services (HHS), Housing and Urban Development, Transportation (DOT), and Veterans Affairs (VA)—can provide funding for nonemergency medical transportation (NEMT) service, although… Continue Reading
Close Call Database – A Community Project for Safer Cycling
“The cycling community seems to be witnessing an increase in the number of accidents involving motor vehicles. These accidents are often tragic for the cyclist, resulting in serious injury and death. Drivers that hit cyclists reportedly flee the scene of the accident 50% of the time. Even when they are apprehended they seldom face serious… Continue Reading
Natural Hazards of 2014
“Going into the New Year, the USGS reflects on the natural hazards of 2014 as a reminder of the dangers we face and the need for preparedness to save lives and property. In 2014, several damaging natural earthquakes occurred around the world. A devastating landslide occurred in Washington State, while heavy rains and landslides also hit… Continue Reading
The Lost Generation of the Great Recession
Hur, Sewon, The Lost Generation of the Great Recession (December 30, 2014). Available for download at SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract=2546188 “This paper analyzes the effects of the Great Recession on different generations. While older generations have suffered the largest decline in wealth due to the collapse in asset prices, younger generations have suffered the largest decline in labor… Continue Reading
Monthly Budget Review for December 2014
“The federal government’s budget deficit was $175 billion for the first three months of fiscal year 2015, $3 billion more than the shortfall recorded in the same period last year, CBO estimates. Revenues and outlays were both higher (by 11 percent and 9 percent, respectively) than they were at the same point in fiscal year… Continue Reading
New Clues from Doc Searls and David Weinberger
“Fifteen years ago, four of us got together and posted The Cluetrain Manifesto which tried to explain what most businesses and much of the media were getting wrong about the Web. These New Clues come from two of the authors of that manifesto, and of the book that followed. There’s more information here about this project,… Continue Reading
DOT Fines Honda $70 Million for Reporting Failures
“The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced today that as a result of a NHTSA investigation, Honda will pay two $35 million civil penalties, for a total of $70 million, for failing to report deaths, injuries, and certain warranty claims to the federal government in violation of the TREAD Act. … Continue Reading
The Political Question Doctrine: Justiciability and the Separation of Powers
CRS – The Political Question Doctrine: Justiciability and the Separation of Powers. Jared P. Cole, Legislative Attorney. December 23, 2014. “Article III of the Constitution restricts the jurisdiction of federal courts to deciding actual “Cases” and “Controversies.” The Supreme Court has articulated several “justiciability” doctrines emanating from Article III that restrict when federal courts will adjudicate disputes. One justiciability concept is the political… Continue Reading
Human-Induced Earthquakes from Deep-Well Injection: A Brief Overview
CRS – Human-Induced Earthquakes from Deep-Well Injection: A Brief Overview. Peter Folger, Specialist in Energy and Natural Resources Policy; Mary Tiemann, Specialist in Environmental Policy. December 22, 2014. “The development of unconventional oil and natural gas resources using horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing (fracking) has created new demand for wastewater disposal wells that inject waste fluids into deep geologic strata. An increasing… Continue Reading
Congressional Oversight Manual
CRS – Congressional Oversight Manual. Alissa M. Dolan, Legislative Attorney; Elaine Halchin, Specialist in American National Government; Todd Garvey, Legislative Attorney; Walter J. Oleszek, Senior Specialist in American National Government; Wendy Ginsberg, Analyst in American National Government. December 19, 2014. “The Congressional Research Service (CRS) developed the Congressional Oversight Manual over 30 years ago, following a three-day December 1978 Workshop on Congressional Oversight and Investigations. The workshop was organized… Continue Reading
United States Economic Forecast – Deloitte
United States Economic Forecast Volume 2 Issue 4 (December 2014) – “Consider these two facts: 1. GDP growth has been above 3.5 percent for four of the last five quarters. 2. Job growth has been over 200,000 for the past nine months. SURPRISED? Perceptions often run behind reality. As recently as this summer, three quarters of poll respondents… Continue Reading
