Miscellaneous

Delay of Bad-News 3% Rule Provides Time to Kill It

The 3% rule, developed by the IRS, requires federal, state and local governments to withhold 3% of payments they make to contractors for taxes, much like employers withhold a percentage of employees’ income for tax purposes. Last week the IRS delayed the rule going into effect, which means there might be time to kill it.Read… Read more »

International Cyber Strategy is Florid, If Short On Specifics

The administration’s International Strategy for Cyberspace released on Monday is more a dream or vision than a set of hard-nosed proposals. Yet it does have strong expressions of value, calling for “norms of behavior” expected of other nations. To get to this future vision, the administration proposes a 3D approach — diplomacy, defense and development.Read… Read more »

GovInsights: Challenges in Government – Reputation, Ethics, and Common-Sense Leadership

This interview is part of a series on GovLoop called “GovInsights” where we interview and highlight the thoughts and perspectives of professors at who are researching and writing about government issues. This time we talked with, Dr. Patrick Malone is an Executive-in-Residence Professor for the Department of and Policy at American University, in Washington, D.C.Read… Read more »

Maine passes health insurance reform

Maine has passed significant health insurance reform allowing for more interstate purchasing and insurance subsidies for some citizens. Amendments to the bill include measures to keep rates from rising in rural areas and will ensure that people do not have to travel long distances for health care. The measure passed the state Senate 24-10 andRead… Read more »

Political law links for Wednesday

“WE KNOW WHERE YOU LIVE. LOVE, THE IRS.” WSJ editorial. “A tax probe of donations given by a specific class of political donors is a boldfaced attempt to punish and discourage political speech.” NEW SUPER PAC NEWS. LA Times. “Indiana attorney James Bopp Jr., one of the lawyers who brought the watershed Citizens United caseRead… Read more »

Project of the Week: Enid, Oklahoma’s Interactive Web Presence

A couple weeks ago, I had the chance to participate in Gov 2.0a / CityCampOKC in Oklahoma City. While there, I met Derrick Silas of Enid, OK. I had heard from folks like Sid Burgess that Derrick was doing some innovative things in Enid, but I hadn’t spent any time on their website…until right afterRead… Read more »

VTA tests new fareboxes

The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (CA) is testing new fareboxes on selected bus routes starting May 18. The new fareboxes will be able to issue and read electronic day passes and allow riders to swipe magnetic stripe tickets from other transit agencies. After reviewing the results of the the pilot test, VTA expects toRead… Read more »

TransLink adds more cameras to bus fleet

TransLink (BC) is adding 600 security cameras to its bus fleet with a goal of protecting drivers and customers, reviewing incidents, and investigating claims. The agency placed cameras in 244 buses in 2006 and says they have helped protect drivers and solve crimes. According to TransLink, the number of bus driver assaults has dropped 20%Read… Read more »

Summer Internships Might Just Help You Land a Clearance, And a Job

It’s that magical time of year, when all across the Washington, D.C. area hemlines get shorter, the crowds at the happy hours get younger, and interns start arriving in offices across the city. As someone who’s lived in Washington, D.C. for seven years now (wow – I’ve almost gone native), I’ve become quite used toRead… Read more »