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Daily Archives: April 12, 2017

Companies Stashing the Most Money Overseas

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24/7 Wall St – “The U.S. economic system encourages cost-cutting at every stage of business. While taxes are a yearly expense for small businesses, working families, and individuals, large U.S. companies avoid billions in taxes each year on cash held in offshore bank accounts. The current level of global wealth inequality, which is widely expected to widen under reforms proposed by President Donald Trump and congressional leaders, is unprecedented. According to anti-poverty organization Oxfam America, just eight individuals possess more wealth than 3.6 billion people — half of humanity. The wealthiest 1% of people worldwide have more wealth than everyone else combined. Against this backdrop, tax avoidance is especially troubling. The 50 largest public U.S. companies currently have a combined $1.6 trillion stashed in accounts and assets overseas — according to new analysis by Oxfam. Apple is the leader, with $200.1 billion held in foreign bank accounts.

Click here to see the 50 U.S. companies stashing $1.6 trillion overseas.

Report – Fostering Integrity in Research (2017)

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The National Academies: “The integrity of knowledge that emerges from research is based on individual and collective adherence to core values of objectivity, honesty, openness, fairness, accountability, and stewardship. Integrity in science means that the organizations in which research is conducted encourage those involved to exemplify these values in every step of the research process.… Continue Reading

Comprehensive Plan for Reforming the Federal Government and Reducing the Federal Civilian Workforce

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Executive Office of the President, Office of Management and Budget, Memorandum for Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies – April 12, 2017. M-17-22, Comprehensive Plan for Reforming the Federal Government and Reducing the Federal Civilian Workforce. “This memorandum provides agencies guidance on fulfilling the requirements of the Hiring Freeze PM and the Reorganization EO while… Continue Reading

Share of married Americans is falling, but they still pay most of the nation’s income taxes

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“While the share of U.S. adults who are married has been falling steadily over the past 40 years, married people continue to earn most of the nation’s income and pay the vast majority of income taxes, according to a Pew Research Center analysis of IRS tax administration data. In 1970, 69% of adults were married,… Continue Reading

Global Restrictions on Religion Rise Modestly in 2015, Reversing Downward Trend

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“Government restrictions on religion and social hostilities involving religion increased in 2015 for the first time in three years, according to Pew Research Center’s latest annual study on global restrictions on religion. The share of countries with “high” or “very high” levels of government restrictions – i.e., laws, policies and actions that restrict religious beliefs… Continue Reading

New NatureServe Canada report finds increase in globally at-risk species in Canada

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“A new NatureServe Canada report on globally rare species in Canada shows an increase in the number of animals, plants and lichen facing threats to their existence. In fact, 517 species that occur in Canada are now classified as being globally at risk. The report, entitled On Guard For Them: Species of Global Conservation Concern… Continue Reading

Government Watchdog to Conduct Review of Trump Transition Process

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News release: “The U.S. Government Accountability Office  has initiated an investigation of conflicts of interest and other problems affecting President Trump’s transition. The review was requested in November 2016 by U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Representative Elijah E. Cummings (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.  The Members of… Continue Reading

Introduction to the Legislative Process in the U.S. Congress

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CRS – Introduction to the Legislative Process in the U.S. Congress, Valerie Heitshusen, Specialist on Congress and the Legislative Process. April 7, 2017. [via FAS] This report introduces the main steps through which a bill (or other item of business) may travel in the legislative process—from introduction to committee and floor consideration to possible presidential… Continue Reading

Armed Conflict in Syria: Overview and U.S. Response

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CRS – Armed Conflict in Syria: Overview and U.S. Response. Carla E. Humud, Coordinator Analyst in Middle Eastern Affairs; Christopher M. Blanchard, Specialist in Middle Eastern Affairs; Mary Beth D. Nikitin, Specialist in Nonproliferation April 7, 2017. “A deadly chemical weapons attack in Syria on April 4, 2017, and a U.S. military strike in response… Continue Reading

The Board Can Improve the Effectiveness of Continuous Monitoring as a Supervisory Tool

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Office of Inspector General Evaluation Report, March 29, 2017. 2017-SR-B-005 “We assessed the effectiveness of continuous monitoring as a supervisory activity for large, complex financial institutions, including Large Institution Supervision Coordinating Committee (LISCC) firms and large banking organizations (LBOs). The Federal Reserve System plays a major role in regulating the U.S. financial system. Specifically, the… Continue Reading

America’s 10 Most Threatened Rivers

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Outside: “The days of regular “river fires” in America may be long gone, but that doesn’t mean the country’s waterways are clean. In its last nation-wide survey, the EPA found that more than half the US’s rivers are in “poor condition” and too polluted to adequately support marine life. “America’s streams and rivers,” the EPA… Continue Reading