Legislative History of the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act Public Law 109-435, James I. Campbell Jr., September 2007. Includes a summary of the evolution of the bill over 10 years, the public law, congressional debates, most recent committee reports (and related bills), and presidential signing statement. 1077 pages. Continue Reading
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Category Archives: Legislation
EBRI – Tax Reform Options: Promoting Retirement Security
Tax Reform Options: Promoting Retirement Security by Jack VanDerhei, Employee Benefit Research Institute: “Currently, the combination of worker and employer contributions in a defined contribution plan is capped by the federal tax code at the lesser of $49,000 per year or 100 percent of a workers compensation (participants over age 50 can made additional catch-up… Continue Reading
New GAO Reports: Dodd-Frank Act Regulations, IRS's Financial Audit, Medicaid
Dodd-Frank Act Regulations: Implementation Could Benefit from Additional Analyses and Coordination, GAO-12-151, Nov 10, 2011 Financial Audit: IRS’s Fiscal Years 2011 and 2010 Financial Statements, GAO-12-165, Nov 10, 2011 Financial Audit: Office of Financial Stability (Troubled Asset Relief Program) Fiscal Years 2011 and 2010 Financial Statements, GAO-12-169, Nov 10, 2011 Medicaid: Prototype Formula Would Provide… Continue Reading
New Paper: Why parents help their children lie to Facebook about age: Unintended consequences of the COPPA
“The Berkman Center for Internet & Society is pleased to share a new paper published in First Monday, Why parents help their children lie to Facebook about age: Unintended consequences of the Childrens Online Privacy Protection Act, authored by Berkman community members danah boyd, Eszter Hargittai, Jason Schultz, and John Palfrey. Abstract from the authors:… Continue Reading
EFF Sues for Answers About PATRIOT Act on Law's 10th Anniversary
News release: “The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) sued the Department of Justice (DOJ) today for answers about “secret interpretations” of the USA PATRIOT Act, signed into law ten years ago today. Several senators have warned that the DOJ is using Section 215 of the PATRIOT Act to support what government attorneys call a “sensitive collection… Continue Reading
Report: Top Ways Obama Administration Should Strengthen Endangered Species Act
News release: “The Center for Biological Diversity released a new report today outlining the best ways to ensure that plants and animals protected under the Endangered Species Act get the help they need and thats required by law. The report, A Future for All: A Blueprint for Strengthening the Endangered Species Act, includes 20 important… Continue Reading
Report – The Delay Game: How the Chemical Industry Ducks Regulation of the Most Toxic Substances
News release: “By exploiting loopholes in the law, the chemical industry for decades has systematically subverted Environmental Protection Agency efforts to protect public health, a study by the Natural Resources Defense Council found. As a result, the industry has made enormous profits while delaying restrictions on unsafe chemicals, largely by ginning up scientific uncertainties, according… Continue Reading
Markey to Amazon: Dont Hold a Kindle Fire Sale on Privacy
News release: “Concerned that the pairing of the new Kindle Fire tablet with its must-use Silk browser means Amazon could track each Web click of Kindle Fire users Congressman Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) [October 14, 2011] sent a letter to Amazons CEO asking for responses to questions about tablets users privacy and security…In May 2011,… Continue Reading
Federal Reserve Board seeks comment on proposal to implement "Volcker Rule" requirements of the Dodd-Frank Act
News release: “The Federal Reserve Board on Tuesday requested public comment on a proposed regulation implementing the so-called “Volcker Rule” requirements of section 619 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. Section 619 generally contains two prohibitions. First, it prohibits insured depository institutions, bank holding companies, and their subsidiaries or affiliates (banking… Continue Reading
Cell Phone and Texting Laws
Governors Highway Safety Administration, Cell Phone Laws and Texting, October 2011 – “This chart outlines all state cell phone and text messaging laws. Some local jurisdictions may have additional regulations. Enforcement type is shown in parenthesis. Handheld Cell Phones: 9 states, D.C. and the Virgin Islands prohibit all drivers from using handheld cell phones while… Continue Reading
FTC Settlement Bans Alleged Spammer from Sending Unsolicited Text Messages
News release: An operator who allegedly sent millions of illegal spam text messages to consumers is banned from sending any unsolicited text messages, under a settlement agreement with the Federal Trade Commission entered by a federal court. According to the FTC complaint filed in February 2011, the marketer sent a mind-boggling number of unsolicited commercial… Continue Reading
Obama Deficit Plan Would Allow Debt Collector Robo-Calls to Cell Phones
News release: “Buried in President Obamas deficit reduction plan (see page 28) is a proposal to allow debt collectors to contact delinquent debtors via their cellular phones when collecting debts owed to or guaranteed by the federal government. The proposal will not help reduce the deficit and is harmful for consumers, the National Consumer Law… Continue Reading
