Category «Congress»

Report – A big year for fact-checking, but not for new U.S. fact-checkers

Duke Reporter’s Lab – Following a historic pattern, the number of American media outlets verifying political statements dropped after last year’s presidential campaign. “All the talk about political lies and misinformation since last year’s election has been good for the fact-checking business in the United States — but it has not meant an increase in …

Subjects: Climate Change, Congress, Internet, Knowledge Management

POGO – Revealing the Lost World of Government Reports

POGO – “Congress is considering a simple but important step in overseeing federal agencies. A recently introduced bill would require a one-stop, easy-to-use, online location for all congressionally mandated reports. This may put an end to the world of lost and hidden government reports. Each year, Congress mandates that federal agencies report on programs, laws, …

Subjects: Congress, Freedom of Information, Government Documents, Legal Research

CRS – Retirement Benefits for Members of Congress

Retirement Benefits for Members of Congress, Katelin P. Isaacs, Specialist in Income Security. December 5, 2017: “…Under both Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) and Federal Employees’Retirement System (FERS)., Members of Congress are eligible for a pension at the age of 62 if they have completed at least five years of service. Members are eligible for …

Subjects: Congress, Government Documents, Legal Research

American Bar Association focus of attacks in efforts to approve unqualified judges

Politico: “Senate Republicans have declared war on the American Bar Association. Since 1953, the venerable legal organization has played a critical, behind-the-scenes role in assessing judicial nominees and their fitness to serve on the bench.But with the ABA emerging as a major stumbling block in President Donald Trump’s effort to transform the courts, the GOP …

Subjects: Congress, Courts, Freedom of Information, Legal Research

Iraq Study Group Papers of former U.S. Rep. Lee Hamilton are now available in digital format

Indiana University Bloomington: “The Iraq Study Group Papers of former U.S. Rep. Lee Hamilton are now available in digital format from Indiana University Libraries, providing researchers and the public with a behind-the-scenes look at a bipartisan panel that influenced U.S. policy in Iraq. Hamilton, now a distinguished scholar in the IU School of Global and International Studies …

Subjects: Congress, Defense, Government Documents, Legal Research

CRS Reports – Negotiating with North Korea

Steven Aftergood, Secrecy News: “The alternative to military conflict with North Korea over its nuclear weapons program is to advance some kind of negotiated settlement. But what would that be? And how could it be achieved? A new report from the Congressional Research Service summarizes the limited successes of past nuclear negotiations between the US …

Subjects: Congress, Defense, Government Documents

S.177 – Data Security and Breach Notification Act of 2015

“Data Security and Breach Notification Act of 2015 – Requires the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to promulgate regulations requiring commercial entities, nonprofit and for-profit corporations, estates, trusts, cooperatives, and other specified entities that own or possess data containing personal information (covered entities), or that contract to have a third-party maintain or process such data for …

Subjects: Congress, Cybercrime, Cybersecurity, E-Mail, Legislation

Special Counsel’s Office Statement of Expenditures: May 17, 2017 – Sept. 30, 2017

DOJ – “Please find the link to the Special Counsel’s Office Statement of Expenditures, May 17, 2017 to September 30, 2017 here. This statement has also been provided to the Senate Committee on the Judiciary and the House Committee on the Judiciary. As required by regulation, the Special Counsel, with the assistance of the Department’s …

Subjects: Congress, Financial System, Government Documents, Legal Research

Treasury IG to report on completed tax bill analysis that was not released

ThinkProgess: “Treasury watchdog to investigate why analysis of GOP tax bill was never made public. Sen. Warren said the department has “grossly misled” the public. The Treasury Department’s inspector general has opened an inquiry into why the department’s analysis of the Republican tax plan hasn’t been released to the public, following a request from Sen. …

Subjects: Congress, Government Documents, Legal Research, Legislation

Pew – Public Defenders Fight Back Against Budget Cuts, Growing Caseloads

Pew Charitable Trusts: “Public defenders have complained for decades they’ve got too many cases and not enough money — or time — to do their clients justice. Now, more public defense advocates are suing states for more funding. Overwhelmed public defenders also are increasingly trying other tactics: refusing to take on new cases, raising money …

Subjects: Civil Liberties, Congress, Legal Research

IssueVoter supports direct communications between voters and elected officials

FastCompany: “A site called IssueVoter is designed to make it much simpler to follow what elected officials are doing, easily share opinions about proposed bills, and track the results of votes.“I use this analogy: When you hire someone, and you pay and promote them, you get to see their work and evaluate the work they’re …

Subjects: Congress, Knowledge Management, Legal Research, Legislation

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