“The Open Budget Survey is a comprehensive analysis and survey that evaluates whether governments give the public access to budget information and opportunities to participate in the budget process at the national level. The Survey also assesses the capacity and independence of formal oversight institutions. The IBP works with civil society partners in 100 countries… Continue Reading
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Author Archives: Sabrina I. Pacifici
For Your Health: Test Your Home for Radon
EPA – “Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States and is estimated to be responsible for more than 20,000 lung cancer deaths each year. You can’t see, smell, or taste radon–it’s a radioactive gas that comes from the natural breakdown of uranium in soil, rock, and water and gets… Continue Reading
Positivism, Legal Validity, and the Separation of Law and Morals
Pino, Giorgio, Positivism, Legal Validity, and the Separation of Law and Morals (december 2012). Ratio Juris, 2013. Available at SSRN “The essay discusses the import of the separability thesis both for legal positivism and for contemporary legal practice. First, the place of the separability thesis in legal positivism will be explored, distinguishing between standard positivism… Continue Reading
Administration of Barack Obama, 2013 Inaugural Address, January 21, 2013
Administration of Barack Obama, 2013. Inaugural Address, January 21, 2013 Continue Reading
Pew – Library Services in the Digital Age
Library Services in the Digital Age – Patrons embrace new technologies and would welcome more. But many still want printed books to hold their central place, by Kathryn Zickuhr, Lee Rainie and Kristen Purcell “The internet has already had a major impact on how people find and access information, and now the rising popularity… Continue Reading
New GAO Reports – Federal Rulemaking, DOE, IT Implementation, Pension Costs on DOD Contracts
Federal Rulemaking – Agencies Could Take Additional Steps to Respond to Public Comments, GAO-13-21, Dec 20, 2012 Department of Energy – Better Information Needed to Determine If Nonmajor Projects Meet Performance Targets, GAO-13-129, Dec 19, 2012 Information Technology – OMB and Agencies Need to Fully Implement Major Initiatives to Save Billions of Dollars, GAO-13-297T, Jan… Continue Reading
Texas has largest over-the-year employment increase; Nevada has largest unemployment rate decrease
BLS – “Over the year, 30 states experienced statistically significant changes in employment. The largest over-the-year jobs increase occurred in Texas, where employment increased from 10,643,200 to 10,904,000 from December 2011 to December 2012 (a change of +260,800), followed by California (+225,900) and New York (+123,600). Only West Virginias employment decreased (-13,900).” Continue Reading
Prosecutorial Discretion in Immigration Enforcement: Legal Issues
Prosecutorial Discretion in Immigration Enforcement: Legal Issues – Kate M. Manuel, Legislative Attorney; Todd Garvey, Legislative Attorney. January 17, 2013 “The term prosecutorial discretion is commonly used to describe the wide latitude that prosecutors have in determining when, whom, how, and even whether to prosecute apparent violations of the law. The Immigration and Naturalization Service… Continue Reading
CRS – The Protection of Classified Information: The Legal Framework
The Protection of Classified Information: The Legal Framework, Jennifer K. Elsea, Legislative Attorney, January 10, 2013 “This report provides an overview of the relationship between executive and legislative authority over national security information, and summarizes the current laws that form the legal framework protecting classified information, including current executive orders and some agency regulations pertaining… Continue Reading
CRS – Follow-On Biologics: The Law and Intellectual Property Issues
Follow-On Biologics: The Law and Intellectual Property Issues, Wendy H. Schacht, Specialist in Science and Technology Policy; John R. Thomas, Visiting Scholar, December 6, 2012 “The term biologics refers to a category of medical preparations derived from a living organism. These medicines have added notable therapeutic options for many diseases and impacted fields such as… Continue Reading
Public Libraries in the United States Survey: Fiscal Year 2010 Report
Public Libraries in the United States Survey: Fiscal Year 2010. January 2013: “The Public Libraries in the United States Survey report analyzes data supplied annually by over 98% of public libraries across the country. This years report features nine performance indicators and examines differences in library service at the locality levels (city, suburb, town, rural… Continue Reading
Preliminary international banking statistics at end-September 2012
“Statistics at end-September 2012 are preliminary and subject to change. Large movements in the latest data are highlighted in the Statistical release. Data are available via the BIS WebStats query tool, in PDF and CSV files on the BIS website (locational and consolidated), and as a single PDF file in detailed annex tables. Final statistics,… Continue Reading
