H.R. 1905 – Iran Threat Reduction Act of 2011 “H.R. 1905 would amend and expand existing sanctions against Iran. CBO estimates that implementing the bill would have a discretionary cost of $128 million over the 2012-2016 period, assuming appropriation of the necessary amounts. In addition, enacting the bill would increase revenues by $57 million over… Continue Reading
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Category Archives: Legislation
Smart Grid Legislative and Regulatory Policies and Case Studies
Smart Grid Legislative and Regulatory Policies and Case Studies, December 12, 2011 “In recent years, a number of U.S. states have adopted or are considering smart grid related laws, regulations, and voluntary or mandatory requirements. At the same time, the number of smart grid pilot projects has been increasing rapidly. Recent activity includes the deployment… Continue Reading
Effects of Tax on Financial Transactions That Would Be Imposed by Wall Street Trading and Speculators Tax Act
Response to Questions About the Effects of a Tax on Financial Transactions That Would Be Imposed by the Wall Street Trading and Speculators Tax Act, December 12. 2011 “The Impact of the Tax on Gross Domestic Product and U.S. Jobs – The taxs effect on economic output in the United States would depend on several… Continue Reading
Paper: The Dodd-Frank Act and Housing Finance
The Dodd-Frank Act and Housing Finance, Levitin, Adam J., Pavlov, Andrey D. and Wachter, Susan M., (November 17, 2011). Yale Journal on Regulation, Forthcoming; U of Penn, Inst for Law & Econ Research Paper No. 11-35. “Private risk capital has virtually disappeared from the U.S. housing finance market since the markets collapse in 2008. This… Continue Reading
Cost Estimate for H.R. 3630, Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2011
Cost Estimate for H.R. 3630, Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2011 – December 9, 2011 “According to CBOs and JCTs estimates, enacting H.R. 3630 would change revenues and direct spending to produce increases in the deficit of $166.8 billion in fiscal year 2012 and $25.3 billion over the 2012-2021 period. Relative… Continue Reading
Spending Patterns for Prescription Drugs Under Medicare Part D
CBO – Spending Patterns for Prescription Drugs Under Medicare Part D, December 2011: “The centerpiece of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 (Medicare Modernization Act) was the creation of Medicare Part D, a subsidized pharmaceutical benefit that went into effect in 2006. That additional coveragewhich provides outpatient prescription drug insurance to… Continue Reading
Governmental Tracking of Cell Phones and Vehicles: The Confluence of Privacy, Technology, and Law
CRS – Governmental Tracking of Cell Phones and Vehicles: The Confluence of Privacy, Technology, and Law. Richard M. Thompson, Law Clerk, December 1, 2011 “Legislation has been introduced in the 112th Congress that proposes to update, clarify, or, in some instances, strengthen the privacy interests protected under the law and give law enforcement a clearer… Continue Reading
Congressional Lawmaking: A Perspective On Secrecy and Transparency
CRS – Congressional Lawmaking: A Perspective On Secrecy and Transparency – Walter J. Oleszek, Senior Specialist in American National Government, November 30, 2011 “Openness is fundamental to representative government. Yet the congressional process is replete with activities and actions that are private and not observable by the public. How to distinguish reasonable legislative secrecy from… Continue Reading
New GAO Reports: Palau, Haiti, Medicare Advantage, Mental Health and Substance Use, Private Health Insurance, Recovery Act, SBA, VA
Compact of Free Association: Proposed U.S. Assistance to Palau for Fiscal Years 2011- 2024, GAO-12-249T, Nov 30, 2011 Earned Import Allowance Program for Haiti, GAO-12-204R, Nov 30, 2011 Medicare Advantage: Enrollment Increased from 2010 to 2011 while Premiums Decreased and Benefit Packages Were Stable, GAO-12-93, Oct 31, 2011 Mental Health and Substance Use: Employers’ Insurance… Continue Reading
Cost Estimate for S. 1867, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012
Cost Estimate for S. 1867, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012, November 29, 2011 “S. 1867 would authorize appropriations totaling $662 billion for fiscal year 2012 for the military functions of the Department of Defense (DoD), for certain activities of the Department of Energy (DOE), and for other purposes. That total includes $117… Continue Reading
Estimated Impact of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act on Employment and Economic Output from 7/11-9/11
Estimated Impact of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act on Employment and Economic Output from July 2011 Through September 2011, November 2011 “The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) contains provisions that are intended to boost economic activity and employment in the United States. Section 1512(e) of the law requires the Congressional Budget… Continue Reading
Sunlight Foundation Update: Digitizing Legislative Documents
A Year Later, Little Progress on Digitizing Legislative Documents, Daniel Schuman: “A year ago today, Congress’ Joint Committee on Printing directed that three sets of vital legislative and legal documents be published online “as quickly as possible.” We’ve reviewed how well that order was implemented, and the results are not encouraging. Of the three documents,… Continue Reading
