Route Fifty
As Nation Moves to a Service Economy, States Look to Tax It More
In states from Arizona to Oklahoma, lawmakers are considering bills that would impose the sales tax on services ranging from beauty salons to funeral homes.
Nextgov
Only 3 Percent of Federal Job Ads Contain the Word 'Customer'
That doesn’t bode well for the government’s fledgling efforts to improve customer service across agencies.
Route Fifty
Forget Downtown. Smart City Districts Are the New Social and Economic Hubs
A new White House report urges the creation of financing mechanisms to create more development areas geared toward innovation.
Nextgov
Contractors Annoyed After DHS Scraps $675M Cyber Contract
The group said each team of contenders had spent hundreds of thousands of dollars preparing proposals
News
VA Does Not Stand For 'Veterans Administration'
At any given moment, a 2016 presidential contender somewhere is screwing up the name of the Veterans Affairs Department.
Route Fifty
Route Fifty’s Complete Coverage of NGA Winter Meetings, NACo Legislative Conference
The nation’s governors and county leaders recently gathered in the nation’s capital to discuss their policy priorities, mutual challenges and ideas to improve their governments. Here’s a comprehensive roundup of our dispatches from Washington, D.C.
Nextgov
Jeh Johnson Makes ‘Hard Choices’ in Cyber Budget
In a series of budget hearings, Johnson defended the department’s $40.6 billion budget request for the upcoming fiscal year.
Nextgov
‘Reprehensible’ Homeland Security IT System 'Pissed Away' $180 Million, Says One Lawmaker
The system's failings could make it more difficult for DHS to remove poor performers, “if that ever happens at all," said Rep. Scott Perry, R-Pa.
Route Fifty
A New Google Fiber Model Will Take Shape in Huntsville
Instead of building a new network from scratch, a different approach will be used in the northern Alabama city.
Nextgov
Why is the Air Force’s Cyber R&D Budget Skyrocketing?
The branch wants to nearly quadruple the current $7.7 million purse for defending networked aircraft, launch systems, satellites and data.
Route Fifty
States Strive to Eliminate Costly Construction Delays
Some states, recognizing the economic and environmental costs of delayed transportation projects, are starting to use financial incentives, heightened public scrutiny and “design-build” strategies to increase the likelihood that projects will come in on time and on budget.
Route Fifty
White House Poverty Summit Looks at Ways to Address Child Welfare
Leaders focus on nutrition and two-generation approaches to helping children growing up in poverty.
Route Fifty
Counties Should View Outdated Elections Technology and Policies as Cyber Liabilities
“You want to assume breach,” the president of Verified Voting told the National Association of Counties this week.
Nextgov
California Says Companies Should Embrace NSA-developed Data Protections
Many of the 657 data breaches that California businesses and agencies reported during the past four years could have been prevented.
Nextgov
Here’s What the Government Gets Right When it Comes to Customer Service
The feds get dinged a lot, but it’s important to shed some light on positive government efforts, too.
Nextgov
DHS Silicon Valley Office Awards First Contract to Internet of Things Startup
It's part of DHS' calculated effort to tap into the cutting-edge private sector technology -- and technology talent -- often provided by startups.
News
I’m Not a ‘Big Government, Crazy Liberal,’ Obama Insists
“It’s not like I’m waking up every morning thinking, how can I add more work for me,” president tells nation’s governors.
Route Fifty