Archive for June 2013

That was the week that was

June 17, 2013 - 05:10 PM
0 Comments

Republican Strategist Jack Burkman and Democratic Strategist Richard Fowler review the week in politics. In this installment, they debate the White House's decision to arm Syrian rebels, the future of federal benefits for same-sex couples, and Hillary Clinton's mysterious "to be determined" twitter bio.

Continue Reading

Tags:

Fostering a more fuel-efficient U.S. Air Force

June 14, 2013 - 02:10 PM
0 Comments

The Service to America Medals, or Sammies, honor federal workers who show a committment to public service and make the agencies they work for stronger.

Dr. Kevin Geiss, finalist for the Management Excellence Medal, discussed his work at the Air Force with Capital Insider.

Click here for more information.

Continue Reading

Tags:

U.S. will arm Syrian rebels

June 14, 2013 - 02:05 PM
0 Comments

The White House says it has conclusive evidence that Syrian President Bashar Assad's regime used chemical weapons against the opposition. It crossed what President Obama has called a "red line," and triggered greater U.S. involvement in Syria's civil war. Now, the U.S. will provide rebel forces with lethal aid.

J.D. Gordon, executive director of "Protect America Today," discussed the possible implications with Capital Insider.

Continue Reading

Tags:

Tax Expenditures and the IRS data gap

June 13, 2013 - 02:43 PM
0 Comments

When used properly, tax expenditures foster the use of green energy, help workers save for retirement, and encourage economic development in poor communities. But IRS data on tax expenditures is incomplete.

Jim White, director of tax issues for the Government Accountability Office, discussed the issue with Capital Insider.

Continue Reading

Tags:

Banks still charging billions in overdraft fees

June 13, 2013 - 02:40 PM
0 Comments

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau released a new report this week. It suggests that rules designed to curb bank overdraft fees have had mixed results.

Danielle Douglas, financial reporter for The Washington Post, discussed that and other top financial headlines with Capital Insider.

Continue Reading

Tags:

The farm bill, food stamps, and the future of crop subsidies

June 12, 2013 - 02:30 PM
0 Comments

This week, the Senate passed a five-year, half-trillion dollar farm bill on a bi-partisan 66-27 vote. Now, it's on to the House of Representative. House Speak John Boehner (R-OH) says his chamber will take up the bill this month.

Steve Ellis, vice president of the non-partisan Taxpayers for Common Sense, discussed the bill with Capital Insider.

Continue Reading

Tags:

Kurdistan Region separates further from Iraq

June 12, 2013 - 02:25 PM
0 Comments

The Kurdistan Region of Northern Iraq has its own border, its own economy, and its own president. Will they try to form an independent state?

Col. Douglas Macgregor (U.S. Army, retired) discussed that and other top defense issues with Capital Insider.

Continue Reading

Tags:

Silicon Valley and "PRISM"

June 12, 2013 - 02:20 PM
0 Comments

A top secret National Security Agency program, dubbed "PRISM," gathered intelligence from Microsoft, Facebook, Google, and other tech companies. The Washington Post broke the story last week. It didn't take long for Silicon Valley to react.

Cecilia Kang, technology reporter for The Washington Post, discussed the issue with Capital Insider.

 

Continue Reading

Tags:

A profile of Edward Snowden

June 12, 2013 - 02:15 PM
0 Comments

The federal government monitors threats to national security with the help of nearly 500,000 private-sector employees. Private firms have access to a great deal of top secret information.

This month, an employee of one of those firms -- Edward Snowden, formerly of Booz Allen Hamilton -- lifted the shroud of secrecy off the National Security Agency and its massive data collection program.

Francis Rose, host of "In Depth with Francis Rose," discussed Snowden's background and other top government issues with Capital Insider.

Continue Reading

Tags:

That was the week that was

June 10, 2013 - 12:30 PM
0 Comments

Republican Strategist Jack Burkman and Democratic Strategist Richard Fowler review the week in politics. In this installment, they debate surveillance by the National Security Agency, Gov. Chris Christie's (R-NJ) special election decision, and President Obama's new national security team.

Continue Reading

Tags:

Syrian civil war sees influx of outside groups

June 7, 2013 - 03:30 PM
0 Comments

This week, Syrian President Bashar Assad's forces -- with significant help from Hezbollah -- re-took the strategic border town of Qusair.

On Thursday, Al-Qaeda got in the mix. In an audio recording, their leader Ayman al-Zawahri urged Sunni Muslims to join the battle, overthrow Assad, and set up Islamic rule in Syria.

Col. Cedric Leighton, president of Cedric Leighton Associates, discussed that and other top defense issues with Capital Insider.

Continue Reading

Tags:

Leading GAO financial services through the Great Recession

June 7, 2013 - 02:45 PM
0 Comments

The Service to America Medals, or Sammies, honor federal workers who show a committment to public service and make the agencies they work for stronger.

Orice Williams Brown, finalist for the Career Achievement Medal, discussed her work at the GAO with Capital Insider.

Click here for more information.

Continue Reading

Tags:

Can the U.S. sustain recent jobs gains?

June 6, 2013 - 04:35 PM
0 Comments

A private survey conducted by payroll provider ADP shows U.S. businesses added just 135,000 jobs in May. Moody's Analytics Chief Economist Mark Zandi blamed the disappointing figure on higher taxes and steep government spending cuts.

Ylan Mui, financial reporter for The Washington Post, discussed job market momentum with Capital Insider.

 

Continue Reading

Tags:

Senate, House consider the future of compounding pharmacies

June 6, 2013 - 04:25 PM
0 Comments

Last year, the New England Compounding Center in Massachusetts made a tainted drug. It led to 55 deaths and 700 cases of fungal meningitis. The outbreak prompted plenty of legal action, but little on the legislative front.

Emily Ethridge, staff writer for CQ Roll Call, offered an update on Capital Insider.

Continue Reading

Tags:

IRS under fire on multiple fronts

June 5, 2013 - 01:50 PM
0 Comments

The Internal Revenue Service never enjoyed widespread popularity with the public. Now, the agency's reputation is taking heat on multiple fronts. Lawmakers have been examining the IRS targeting of conservative groups. A new audit also criticizes agency spending.

David Williams, president of the Taxpayers Protection Alliance, discussed the IRS and other top tax topics with Capital Insider.

Continue Reading

Tags:

Is the S-300 a game-changer?

June 5, 2013 - 01:45 PM
0 Comments

The S-300 is the most widely talked about weapon in the news these days, and one of the most elusive. Russian President Vladimir Putin says his country has not delivered it to Syria. Israel warned both countries that such a move would cross their red line.

Lt. Col. Anthony Shaffer, senior fellow with the Center for Advanced Defense Studies, discussed the S-300 hype and other top defense issues with Capital Insider.

Continue Reading

Tags:

Social welfare non-profits and big tobacco

June 5, 2013 - 01:40 PM
0 Comments

According to the non-partisan Center for Responsive Politics, 501(c)(4) groups spent more than $250 million to promote or attack federal political candidates in 2012. The list of donors includes big tobacco.

Dave Levinthal, senior political reporter at the Center for Public Integrity, discussed the issue with Capital Insider.

Continue Reading

Tags:

Pay disconnect for federal workers and federal contractors

June 5, 2013 - 01:35 PM
0 Comments

This week, the Obama administration will send Congress new legislation designed to level the playing field between federal workers and federal contractors.

Joe Davidson, "Federal Diary" columnist for The Washington Post, discussed the issue with Capital Insider.

Continue Reading

Tags:

Amazon's expanding federal cloud footprint sparks bid protest

June 5, 2013 - 01:30 PM
0 Comments

In January, Amazon Web Services -- the company's cloud computing platform -- won a 10-year, $600 million dollar contract with the CIA. IBM lost that bid and the company isn't happy about it.

Troy Schneider, executive editor for FCW, discussed that and other top tech issues with Capital Insider.

Continue Reading

Tags:

Dateline Defense Extra: "The Last Line"

June 4, 2013 - 07:00 PM
0 Comments

Lt. Col. Anthony Shaffer discusses the "The Last Line" -- a novel he co-authored with William H. Keith. The book hits store shelves this month.

Here's his interview with Capital Insider:

Continue Reading

Tags: