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Daily Archives: January 8, 2015

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 consequences: police, prosecutors, juries and even judges are all motorists, few are cyclist, and trading on the sympathy of fellow motorists the driver often walks away with little more than a slap on the wrist and sometimes no charges are filed at all. It sometimes seems like there is little we can do about it. This site has been created to help change that. Hostile drivers are often serial offenders. When a driver “sends a message” by purposefully passing within several inches or by intentionally running you off the road they are committing a life-threatening assault and using their car as a potentially deadly weapon. Cataloging their agression and documenting their hostility helps to build a case against those drivers. This site can provide your local police and prosecutors with important information that should increase the likelihood that justice will be served if the driver ends up harming a cyclist. More importantly, serial offenders can be brought to the attention of your local police who may encourage them to change their behavior before a tragedy occurs. Reporting an incident here will make it available to law enforcement and to your fellow cyclists. Filing a quick report may save someone’s life. Registering at this site will also allow you to receive notice when danger surfaces in the community where you ride.”

 

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

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

CBO Report on HR 30 Save Workers Act of 2015

As introduced in the House of Representatives on January 6, 2015 – “H.R. 30 would change how penalties are imposed under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) on employers that do not offer insurance (or offer insurance that does not meet certain criteria) and that have at least one full-time employee receiving a subsidy through a… Continue Reading