The Government Domain: Tracking Congress 2.0
With the 111th Congress of the United States reconvening on September 8th, e-gov expert Peggy Garvin highlights new tools and sources that enhance and expand your ability to track and monitor the action.
Category «Congress»
The Government Domain: Wrapping Up 2008
E-gov expert Peggy Garvin provides an overview of the significant developments in the world of online government information this past year. According to Peggy, overall the year saw a push by individuals and nongovernment organizations for increased access to digital government information. Specifically, new official government and non-government websites came online, and existing sites developed more sophisticated features.
CongressLine: Presidential Patronage
Paul Jenks’ commentary addresses the background of the scramble for thousands of presidentially appointed offices within the government that accompanies a new administration. The selection process has evolved over the past couple of hundred years and every position outside of the new president’s personal staff requires Senate approval.
CongressLine: Congress and Money
Paul Jenks examines how the appropriations process this year has provided a multitude of interesting examples of the wide variety of tools available to Congress and the federal government for appropriating money, beyond just the ordinary appropriations bills in Congress.
Commentary: Immunity for Telecom Eavesdropping
Beth Wellington’s commentary tracks the legislative path of retroactive immunity for telecom eavesdropping.
FOIA Facts: My Proposals for the FOIA
Following up on the passage earlier this year of the OPEN Government Act of 2007, FOIA expert Scott A. Hodes make two proposals absent from the law, but which would help FOIA requesters.
CongressLine: Running for Congress
Paul Jenks recounts how for the past two years he has run marathons and monitored Congress at the same time, describing how the two experiences are very similar.
FOIA Facts: The Congressional Role in FOIA Operations
Scott A. Hodes contends that Congress must actively use its oversight role to ensure that the new FOIA law, and the FOIA and other disclosure laws that are already on the books, are actively followed and funded.
Commentary: The Supplemental Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response Act
Beth Wellington comments on mine safety legislation one year after the Sago Mine disaster.
Analysis of the Energy Bill, the EPA’s Refusal to Grant Waivers and State Laws With Respect to Climate Change
Beth Wellington reviews the contentious debate underway on the state, national and international level, concerning efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from automobiles.