Knight Foundation: “The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation has a history of supporting libraries. We made our first library grant to the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library in 1964, and our first grant to an urban public library was to the Akron-Summit County Public Library in 1971. Since then we have made nearly… Continue Reading
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Category Archives: Legislation
Independence of Federal Financial Regulators: Structure, Funding, and Other Issues
CRS, February 28, 2017: “Conventional wisdom regarding regulators is that the structure and design of the organization matters for policy outcomes. Financial regulators conduct rulemaking and enforcement to implement law and supervise financial institutions. These agencies have been given certain characteristics that enhance their day-to-day independence from the President and Congress, which may make policymaking more… Continue Reading
The 2017 Long-Term Budget Outlook
The 2017 Long-Term Budget Outlook – “CBO’s projections show a substantial imbalance looming in the federal budget over the next 30 years, with spending outpacing revenues by steadily increasing amounts. As a result, if current laws generally remained unchanged, federal debt would reach an unprecedented share of GDP, intensifying pressures on the federal budget, dampening… Continue Reading
Wharton – The Vote to Deregulate Online Privacy
“Controversy continues to ramp up in Donald Trump’s presidency, with the latest debate spurred by a congressional vote that reverses landmark online privacy protections put in place during the last days of the Obama administration. While some experts say the problems with online privacy don’t loom as large as health care or immigration, the conflict… Continue Reading
POGO’s 2017 Baker’s Dozen Wishlist for Congress
“The Project On Government Oversight (POGO) has unveiled its biennial list of 13 policy areas ripe for Congressional action. It includes recommendations for legislative fixes to make the federal government more transparent, accountable, and ethical. Called the “Baker’s Dozen,” these are priorities demanding immediate attention by lawmakers who are serious about improving the effectiveness of government and saving taxpayers… Continue Reading
Statement on ‘Bringing Justice Closer to the People: Examining Ideas for Restructuring the Ninth Circuit’
Hellman, Arthur D., Statement on ‘Bringing Justice Closer to the People: Examining Ideas for Restructuring the Ninth Circuit’ (March 16, 2017). Hearing Before the House Committee on the Judiciary — Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet, March 16, 2017; U. of Pittsburgh Legal Studies Research Paper No. 2017-03. Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2938699 “Congress… Continue Reading
Collective Bargaining and the Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Statute: Selected Legal Issues
CRS – Collective Bargaining and the Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Statute: Selected Legal Issues, Jon O. Shimabukuro, Legislative Attorney, March 21, 2017. [via FAS] “Title VII of the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978, commonly referred to as the “Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Statute” (FSLMRS), recognizes the right of most federal employees to engage in… Continue Reading
CRS – Russia: Background and U.S. Interests
Russia: Background and U.S. Interests, March 1, 2017 (R44775) “Since 1991, Congress has played a key role in the development of U.S. policy toward the Russian Federation (Russia), the principal successor to the United States’ former superpower rival, the Soviet Union. In that time, U.S.-Russian relations have gone through positive and negative periods. Each new… Continue Reading
Congress Moves to Strike Internet Privacy Rules From Obama Era
The New York Times – “Landmark internet privacy protections for consumers in the first decisive strike against telecommunications and technology regulations created during the Obama administration, and a harbinger of further deregulation. The measure [S.J.Res.34 sponsored by Senator Flake] passed in a 50-to-48 vote largely along party lines. The House is expected to mirror the… Continue Reading
H.R. 1628, American Health Care Act, incorporating manager’s amendments 4, 5, 24, and 25
Follow up to previous postings pertaining to the repeal and replacement of the Affordable Care Act, today’s revised cost estimate remains grim: “CBO and the staff of the Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) have prepared an estimate of the direct spending and revenue effects of H.R. 1628, the American Health Care Act, as posted on… Continue Reading
Brief – Who Gains and Who Loses under the American Health Care Act
Brief – Who Gains and Who Loses under the American Health Care Act, Linda J. Blumberg, Matthew Buettgens, John Holahan, Gordon B. Mermin, Frank Sammartino. March 22, 2017. “Congress is currently considering passage of the American Health Care Act (AHCA). This bill would repeal large portions of the Affordable Care Act, including most of its… Continue Reading
Antibiotic Resistance: More Information Needed to Oversee Use of Medically Important Drugs in Food Animals
Antibiotic Resistance: More Information Needed to Oversee Use of Medically Important Drugs in Food Animals, GAO-17-192: Published: Mar 2, 2017. Publicly Released: Mar 16, 2017. “Antibiotic-resistant bacteria are one of the biggest threats to global health, sickening an estimated 2 million people in the United States each year. There is strong evidence that some resistance… Continue Reading
