No USDA Furloughs
Is It Too Hard to Fire Misbehaving Feds?
Americans Still Like the Postal Service
Making Government 'Simpler'
No More Tax-Cheating Feds, Senators Say
Video: The Daily Show on Apple's Taxes
AUTHOR ARCHIVES
Senate panel approves data security bills
November 5, 2009
FROM NEXTGOV
The Senate Judiciary Committee Thursday sent two bills to the floor that would tighten data security procedures and beef up notification of breaches. A measure sponsored by Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., which passed 14-5, requires data brokers and other companies to establish and implement data privacy and security ...
Craigslist founder to serve on Veterans Affairs panel
November 4, 2009
FROM NEXTGOV
Craigslist.org founder Craig Newmark has agreed to serve on a Veterans Affairs Department panel that will review ideas to improve disability claims processing times and provide greater transparency to vets, the agency announced on Wednesday. Newmark told a high-tech conference in June that he was contemplating whether to "dedicate a ...
Restlessness grows absent cyber czar pick
November 2, 2009
FROM NEXTGOV
The high-tech sector is growing restless as it awaits President Obama's appointment of a White House cybersecurity coordinator. In one of the most recent displays of that frustration, the trade group TechAmerica wrote to Obama urging him to name "a qualified, credible, senior level official... at the earliest possible opportunity." ...
Leahy plans hearing to look at cybersecurity cooperation
October 29, 2009
FROM NEXTGOV
Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy will soon hold a hearing to examine how federal agencies are working together to prepare for and combat high-tech attacks, a senior committee aide said Wednesday. Leahy's chief privacy counsel, Lydia Griggsby, said the panel will ask witnesses about ways cybersecurity programs can be improved ...
Health Hazard
October 28, 2009
FROM NEXTGOV
Warning: Patient privacy could complicate the blueprint for an electronic medical records system. Implementing a nationwide system of electronic medical records as prescribed by President Obama's economic stimulus package is a herculean task that will require a complex new matrix of policies and standards. Two Health and Human Services Department ...
Watchdogs want DHS privacy office investigation
October 27, 2009
FROM NEXTGOV
A group of privacy watchdogs are pressing for a congressional investigation into the Department of Homeland Security's Chief Privacy Office. According to a letter to the House Homeland Security Committee from the Electronic Privacy Information Clearinghouse, American Civil Liberties Union and many others, DHS is unrivaled in its budget authority ...
Politicians' Web town halls boost their approval ratings
October 26, 2009
FROM NEXTGOV
Lawmakers' Internet-based town hall meetings increase constituents' approval ratings for the politician, enhance citizen engagement in politics and ultimately impact the probability of participants voting for that member of Congress, according to a new Congressional Management Foundation report. CMF Executive Director Beverley Bell said online meetings offer lawmakers a flexible ...
Commerce aide: Cybersecurity bill moving
October 19, 2009
FROM NEXTGOV
Legislation to help the government and private sector better prepare for and respond to high-tech attacks against communications infrastructure has a shot at Senate passage this year despite the crowded calendar and potential turf wars, a top Senate aide said today. "Between health care, climate change and a number of ...
Senate aide says cybersecurity bill is moving
October 19, 2009 Legislation to help the government and private sector better prepare for and respond to high-tech attacks against communications infrastructure has a shot at Senate passage this year despite the crowded calendar and potential turf wars, a top Senate aide said on Monday. "Between health care, climate change and a number ...
DHS official says cyber czar 'bad idea,' cyber coordinator 'great idea'
October 2, 2009
FROM NEXTGOV
The Homeland Security Department's top cybersecurity official today pushed back on speculation that the high-level individual President Obama will appoint to coordinate the nation's preparedness for and response to high-tech attacks would be another White House czar. Obama has named aides to push his healthcare, economic, energy and other policy ...
