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Posts Tagged “

Your Government

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Here's an informative slideshow that breaks down how your tax dollars are spent (spoiler alert: nearly half goes to the military). [CNBC]

29 comments

news from the swamp

New Treasury Department Plan: "Rehashed Industry Wish-List"

US PIRG's Ed Mierzwinski thinks the Treasury Department's recently announced plan for reforming financial regulation,

...may include some good ideas, but it is largely a re-hashed, unsubstantiated industry wish-list that seeks to eliminate state enforcement authority over insurance, securities and other financial products, without even guaranteeing strong consumer protection at the federal level.
I gotta say, when I first read about Henry Paulson's plan, it sounded like they said, hey, we've got this pile of proposals here, let's go down to Kinkos, use their binding machine, and call it a day.

Statement: Treasury regulatory proposal— a Wall Street home run and a Main Street strike out [U.S. PIRG Consumer Blog]
PREVIOUSLY: Treasury Secretary Calls For Supercharged Fed, Streamlined Regulatory System

10:34 AM on Wed Apr 2 2008
By Ben Popken
738 views, 9 comments

Latest by n/a: @Carencey: Did you think big business would shoot itself in the foot? more »

deckchairs on the titanic

Treasury Secretary Calls For Supercharged Fed, Streamlined Regulatory System

Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson wants to consolidate the nation's financial regulators into a tripartite gang that can save the economy from distress and doom. The plan to give the Federal Reserve broad new regulatory powers and streamline the regulatory community has been in the works since last March, before the start of the subprime meltdown. Paulson is worried that the U.S. markets are no longer competitive with maturing world markets, some of which aren't hampered by nuisances like regulation. After the jump we'll explain the consumer impact of the plan and introduce you to your three new regulators. More »

Feature

4:38 PM on Sat Mar 29 2008
By Carey
3,799 views, 46 comments

Latest by Charles Duffy: @Mr. Gunn: That's not to say that all risks are the same, or that people don't have the ability (when deciding which part of the country to live in) to mitigate those risks. I'll take tornados over earthquakes or flooding any more »

you've got mail

Economic Stimulus Reminder Notes Are Here!

We recently received our "Economic Stimulus Payment Notice," and it seems worth far less than the $41.8 million the Treasury spent on printing and mailing. The letter contained no surprises, but did extend the tantalizing possibility that we would receive "a notice and additional information shortly before the payment is made." Check out the full letter and a handy eligibility chart, after the jump. More »

1:55 PM on Sat Mar 22 2008
By Carey
9,768 views, 55 comments

Latest by autoclavicle: @supremecourtjester: Actually, it's not taxable. more »

Wondering where the tax money you pay into the NYC public school system is going? Well, part of it goes to pay the salaries of about 700 teachers who are forced to sit in special rooms that are located all over the city. All day. And do nothing. Sometimes for years at a time. [Rubber Room via BuzzFeed]

34 comments

free parking

The Vast Majority Of Philadelphia Parking Tickets May Be Invalid

A CBS investigation has revealed that parking tickets stemming from 85% of the parking meters in Philadelphia are invalid. Pennsylvania law requires inspectors to certify each parking meter for accuracy once every three years, but the single inspector working for Philly's Licenses and Inspections Department, the city agency in change of certification, has visited less than 15% of all parking meters—but he has found the time to certify some meters 8 times while others go completely unchecked. As a result, thousands of parking tickets are invalid under state law. More »

11:37 AM on Sun Mar 9 2008
By Carey
8,591 views, 41 comments

Latest by arkitect75: I used to park in a restricted time residential area, once the restrictions were lifted. One day, I came out to find a ticket, issued during the non restricted time. So, I took a picture of the parking sign more »

product safety

Senate Votes For Safer Products, Approves Consumer Product Safety Commission Overhaul

The Senate finally voted last week to send the ailing Consumer Product Safety Commission desperately needed funds, staff, and powers. The overdue reform bill passed with bipartisan support on a 79-13 vote. More »

1:34 PM on Sat Mar 8 2008
By Carey
1,988 views, 25 comments

your government

Senate CPSC Reform Compromise Leaves Everyone Bitter, Unsatisfied

Nobody likes the compromise reached by Senators to reform the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Industry thinks the revised plan goes too far, while consumer groups want more. For now, the compromise would allow the CPSC to operate without a quorum, inject needed cash into the Commission, and provide for several other nifty provisions. More »

1:21 PM on Thu Feb 21 2008
By Carey
1,730 views, 10 comments

your government

Become A DTV Deputy!

Howdy there partner, are you one of them DTV Deputies? No? The FCC thinks it's high time you take the transition to digital television into your own hands. Because why pay for test trials in select communities when you can use early-90's sound effects and cutting edge graphics to bait consumers into studying for a 13-question quiz? More »

8:48 AM on Sat Feb 9 2008
By Carey
3,568 views, 45 comments

digital tv transition

5 Reasons To Fret Over DTV Coupons

The federal government continues to bungle the transition to digital television, this time by making it difficult for consumers to redeem subsidy coupons for DTV converter boxes. More »

12:05 PM on Sun Jan 13 2008
By Carey
7,716 views, 72 comments

your government

FCC Regulators Sing, Make Fun Of Our Woeful Unpreparedness For DTV Transition

Meet The Singing Regulators. Regular FCC employees by day, these mellifluous regulators spend their nights performing humorous sendups inspired by the Commission's work. Their latest song pokes fun at the FCC's utter failure to prepare the nation for the planned February 2009 transition to digital television. More »

10:30 AM on Wed Dec 26 2007
By Carey
1,788 views, 24 comments

your government

Homeowners Fined $347,000 For Trimming Trees Without A Permit

The Glendale Fire Department sent Ann and Mike Collard a notice informing them that the branches on some of their trees were too close to their home. The notice ordered the couple to maintain 5 feet of "vertical clearance between roof surfaces and overhanging portions of trees." More »

6:11 PM on Wed Nov 28 2007
By Meg Marco
16,332 views, 87 comments

freedom of information

Media Consolidation Is Bad For Everyone

Bill Moyers produced an excellent segment on media consolidation and its disproportionate impact on minorities. African Americans and Hispanics account for over a quarter of the population, but own just 33 of the nation's 1,350 television stations, and only 6% of radio stations. According to Melody Spann-Cooper, owner of Chicago's only black-owned radio station:
Radio has moved from being in the business of empowering and educating people to Wall Street, to making money. And that's not the big corporate conglomerates, you know, that's not their fault. They were allowed to do this.
More »

4:02 PM on Sun Nov 4 2007
By Carey
1,697 views, 29 comments

Latest by Consumer-X: @RandomHookup: The bottom line is that Air America and every other Liberal slanted talk radio format has failed in the free marketplace. If NPR where forced to survive based solely on its ability to compete in the marketplace it would more »

The State of Michigan will be shut down due to a budget crisis at midnight tonight unless lawmakers can work it out. [State of Michigan]

18 comments

your government

Philadelphia Mayor Cracks Down On Tax Evaders, Finds Out He Is One

Philadelphia's mayor, John Street, also known as the "iPhone Mayor," (because he camped out for an iPhone) told Philadelphia he was cracking down on tax scofflaws... only to find out that he is one. More »

8:27 PM on Mon Sep 24 2007
By Meg Marco
5,398 views, 28 comments

your government

How To Write To Congress

Writing to Congress is the single best way to express your view on public policy. The average consumer has a surprising ability to influence legislation by crafting a well written missive and avoiding several common mistakes.

Why Personal Letters Beat Form Letters
Don't get suckered in by the quick and easy "Write to Congress!" form letters littering the internet. Form letters are not an expression of values; they are a show of organizational strength. If the NRA convinces five million people to send letters opposing gun control, it shows that the NRA can muster five million people to action, not that five million people necessarily care about gun laws. Congressional offices know this and generally disregard form letters.

So what happens when you send a letter?

More »

Feature

9:30 AM on Sun Sep 23 2007
By Carey
18,321 views, 24 comments

news from the swamp

FDA Reverses Course, Decides Now Might Not Be The Time To Close Half Its Field Labs

Bowing to pressure from Congress, the FDA has decided not to close more than half of its field labs. The ill-timed plan to consolidate seven of the agency's thirteen labs in the name of efficiency and modernization was already under review by a Presidential panel, and had raised the ire of the powerful Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, John Dingell, who recently introduced legislation to block the reorganization. More »

7:34 PM on Sat Aug 18 2007
By Carey
1,598 views, 3 comments

your government

Chicago Woman Calls 911, Hears Hysterical Laughter Then Is Hung Up On

A Chicago woman called 311 (non-emergency police services) to report illegal and dangerous fireworks exploding over her home. She was transferred to 911 where she was greeted by hysterical laughter. More »

12:19 PM on Thu Jul 12 2007
By Meg Marco
12,901 views, 76 comments

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