Monthly archives: December, 2014

New GAO Reports – Children’s Health Insurance, Federal Data Transparency, VA Health Care, Broadband Internet

Children’s Health Insurance: Cost, Coverage, and Access Considerations for Extending Federal Funding, GAO-15-268T: Published: Dec 3, 2014. Publicly Released: Dec 3, 2014. Federal Data Transparency: Effective Implementation of the DATA Act Would Help Address Government-wide Management Challenges and Improve Oversight, GAO-15-241T: Published: Dec 3, 2014. Publicly Released: Dec 3, 2014. VA Health Care: Improvements Needed to Manage …

Subjects: E-Government, Government Documents, Health Care, Internet

Office of Financial Research 2014 Annual Report

“This third annual report of the Office of Financial Research (OFR) assesses threats to U.S. financial stability, outlines OFR research that supports the assessment, and describes the OFR’s progress in meeting our mission. The report also evaluates policy initiatives for promoting financial stability and describes our work to improve the quality and scope of financial data and analysis. The OFR, financial …

Subjects: Economy, Financial System, Government Documents

The Second Amendment in the Twenty-First Century: What Hath Heller Wrought?

Charles, Patrick J., The Second Amendment in the Twenty-First Century: What Hath Heller Wrought? (December 1, 2014). William & Mary Bill of Rights, Vol. 23, 2015 Forthcoming. Available for download at SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract=2532722 “This article explores the impact District of Columbia v. Heller has had on the public discourse. It is a discourse that will be …

Subjects: Civil Liberties, Courts, Government Documents, Legal Research

Unprecedented leak of Sony Pictures internal personal data

“After sifting through almost 40GB of leaked internal data, one thing is clear: Sony Pictures appears to have suffered the most embarrassing and all-encompassing hack of internal corporate data ever made public. The data dump, which was reviewed extensively by BuzzFeed News, includes employee criminal background checks, salary negotiations, and doctors’ letters explaining the medical rationale …

Subjects: Cybercrime, Cybersecurity, E-Mail, E-Records, Internet, Privacy

Federal Reserve Board Beige Book – December 3, 2014

Summary of Commentary on Current Economic Conditions by Federal Reserve District Prepared at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago and based on information collected on or before November 24, 2014. “Reports from the twelve Federal Reserve Districts suggest that national economic activity continued to expand in October and November. A number of Districts also noted that …

Subjects: Economy, Financial System, Government Documents

EPIC Uncovers DOD Student Data Collection Procedures

“The Department of Defense has released to EPIC documents on the “Joint Advertising and Market Research Studies” Recruiting Database. The database includes sensitive student information, including home address and grade point average. DOD obtains this information from high schools offering military aptitude tests, state DMVs, and commercial data brokers. The documents sought by EPIC shed …

Subjects: Civil Liberties, Defense, Education, Government Documents, Knowledge Management, Privacy

Experian Data Breach Resolution releases second annual data breach industry forecast

“Preventing and managing data breaches have become two of the highest priorities facing businesses today. To help executives plan ahead, Experian Data Breach Resolution announces the release of its second annual Data Breach Industry Forecast, a complimentary white paper outlining key issues and trends to watch for in 2015. Many evolving factors such as new threats, regulatory changes …

Subjects: Cybercrime, Cybersecurity, Economy, Financial System, ID Theft, Wireless Web

Semi-annual report prepared by Intelligence Community Inspector General

Steven Aftergood, Secrecy News: “The Intelligence Community Inspector General (IC IG) received a tip last year that the Intelligence Community might have assembled a database containing US person data in violation of law and policy. “A civilian employee with the Army Intelligence and Security Command made an IC IG Hotline complaint alleging an interagency data repository, …

Subjects: Civil Liberties, Defense, Freedom of Information, Government Documents, Legal Research, Privacy

Taxation of Internet Sales and Access: Legal Issues

CRS – Taxation of Internet Sales and Access: Legal Issues. Erika K. Lunder, Legislative Attorney. December 1, 2014. “In recent years, there has been significant congressional interest in the states’ ability to impose sales and use taxes on sales made over the Internet. While these taxes are imposed on the consumer, states generally prefer that retailers collect and remit them, rather …

Subjects: Congress, E-Commerce, Government Documents, Internet, Legal Research

Afghanistan: Post-Taliban Governance, Security, and U.S. Policy

CRS – Afghanistan: Post-Taliban Governance, Security, and U.S. Policy. Kenneth Katzman, Specialist in Middle Eastern Affairs. December 2, 2014. “Afghan security forces have lead security responsibility throughout the country, and the United States and its partner countries are in the process of transitioning to a smaller post-2014 mission consisting mostly of training the Afghanistan National Security Forces (ANSF). The number of U.S. …

Subjects: Defense, Government Documents

Diabetes State Atlas Now Available Online

“CDC’s Division of Diabetes Translation announces the launch of the Diabetes State Atlas (available athttp://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/data), an interactive Internet tool for the public to view maps and charts of diabetes data and trends at the U.S. state level. Some of the features of the atlas include 1) customizable maps and graphics of diabetes surveillance data, 2) …

Subjects: E-Government, Government Documents, Health Care, Medicine

Do Homeownership and Rent Subsidies Protect Individuals from Material Hardship?

Do Homeownership and Rent Subsidies Protect Individuals from Material Hardship? Robert I. Lerman and Sisi Zhang, November 2014. “Homeowners and subsidized renters experience significantly lower material hardship than unsubsidized renters, even after taking account of income, income variability, race, education, and family structure. Homeownership conveys more protection against hardship than do rent subsidies. Using the Survey of …

Subjects: Economy, Financial System, Housing

Thank you!