government

By 2.17.09

../../../..//2009/02/17/president-obama-has-signed-the/

President Obama has signed the stimulus package. “Today does not mark the end of our economic troubles,” Obama said before signing the bill at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. “But it does mark the beginning of the end — the beginning of what we need to do to create jobs for Americans scrambling in the wake of layoffs; to provide relief for families worried they won’t be able to pay next month’s bills; and to set our economy on a firmer foundation.” [CNN]

The DTV Transition Has Been Delayed, But Some Stations Are Going Forward

The DTV Transition Has Been Delayed, But Some Stations Are Going Forward

By 2.17.09

Today was supposed to be the DTV transition day, were it not for the complete and utter disaster that was the coupon program. Now, the new transition day is June 12, but some stations, mostly in rural areas, are making the switch anyway.

The Arbitration Fairness Act Is In The House

The Arbitration Fairness Act Is In The House

By alexchasick 2.13.09

The Arbitration Fairness Act, which will ban binding mandatory arbitration clauses from consumer, employment, and franchise contracts, was reintroduced in the House yesterday.

Survey: Politicians Pretty Much Suck At Paying Taxes

Survey: Politicians Pretty Much Suck At Paying Taxes

By alexchasick 2.11.09

Following up on the multiple Obama nominees who’ve had tax troubles, Politico asked the 99 members of the Senate whether they’ve ever had mistakes on their tax returns or filed back taxes. Yes and yes.

By cwalters 2.10.09

../../../..//2009/02/10/treasury-secretary-timothy-geithner-has/

Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner has announced a new website, financialstability.gov, to increase transparency in the financial stability program.

By 2.9.09

../../../..//2009/02/09/want-to-know-what-the/

Want to know what the latest version of the stimulus package looks like? “We’ve trimmed the fat, fried the bacon, and milked the sacred cows,” Sen. Ben Nelson said in a statement. [Consumer Reports]

Just How Bad Is This Recession? Look At The Scary, Scary Graph

Just How Bad Is This Recession? Look At The Scary, Scary Graph

By 2.9.09

Nancy Pelosi wants to scare the crap out of you, so her office has released the above scary graph, which we bring to you by way of Time’s Swampland blog.

By 2.5.09

../../../..//2009/02/05/according-to-friend-of-the-blog-and-now/

According to Friend-of-the-Blog and now chairwoman of the Congressional Oversight Panel examining the Troubled Asset Relief Program, Elizabeth Warren, our Treasury Department overpaid banks by as much as 30% for their assets.

By alexchasick 2.4.09

../../../..//2009/02/04/with-a-vote-of-264-158/

With a vote of 264-158, the House agreed to delay the DTV transition to June 12. The Senate voted last week for the delay, and President Obama is expected to sign it. The delay will help the millions of consumers whose coupons expired before the converters were even available, as well as the two million on a waiting list for the coupons.

Consumer Groups To Obama: Please Put Someone With A Brain In Charge Of The CPSC

Consumer Groups To Obama: Please Put Someone With A Brain In Charge Of The CPSC

By 1.30.09

There’s been a lot of talk lately about how the upcoming implementation of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA). The law requires that all children’s products be tested for lead and has caused a major freak out amongst librarians (who don’t really want to test their books for lead, or ban children from the library) and thrift stores (who can’t afford to test used toys for lead). Apparently, according to consumer groups that support the bill, the CPSC is supposed to be monitoring this situation and adding exceptions as needed, but has been ignoring the issue. Now those groups are asking President Obama for a change of leadership within the CPSC. Read their letter inside.

Study Finds Bisphenol-A Can Enter Your Body Through Non-Food Sources

Study Finds Bisphenol-A Can Enter Your Body Through Non-Food Sources

By alexchasick 1.28.09

A new study from the University of Rochester shows that bisphenol-A (BPA), a potentially toxic chemical found in many plastics, can enter the body via non-food sources and lingers in the body longer than previously thought.

Dear President-Elect Obama, The FDA Is Mismanaged. Sincerely, The FDA

Dear President-Elect Obama, The FDA Is Mismanaged. Sincerely, The FDA

By alexchasick 1.12.09

A letter to President-Elect Obama from nine FDA scientists makes alarming charges of mismanagement at the FDA, alleging incompetence, intimidation, and inappropriate industry influence.

Citibank, Senate Agree On "Cramdown" Bill To Prevent Foreclosures

Citibank, Senate Agree On "Cramdown" Bill To Prevent Foreclosures

By cwalters 1.9.09

Ever heard of a cramdown? It’s when a bankrupcty court splits a home loan into two parts: a secured loan that’s equal to the current value of the home, and an unsecured loan that covers the rest of the outstanding debt. The secured loan is paid, and the unsecured isn’t. It can result in lower monthly payments (if the new loan amount is amortized over the course of the loan), but the important part is that it helps guarantee that a significant part of the loan will still be paid off.

Consumers Union Asks Congress To Delay Digital Broadcast TV Switch

Consumers Union Asks Congress To Delay Digital Broadcast TV Switch

By 1.7.09

Consumers Union, the non-profit publisher of Consumer Reports and, um, brand-spanking-new owner of Consumerist, the blog that you are reading right now, is asking Congress to delay the DTV switch until “until a plan is in place to minimize the number of consumers who will lose TV signals, particularly by fixing the flaws in the federal coupon program.” Why are they doing this? Well, the coupon program has already run out of money. Read the letter inside.

FDA Is Not Impressed By Diet Coke Plus

FDA Is Not Impressed By Diet Coke Plus

By alexchasick 1.6.09

Last month, the FDA sent Coca-Cola a letter warning that their Diet Coke Plus (“it’s what plants crave”) violates FDA standards for products fortified with vitamins.

The DTV Coupon Program Is Running Out Of Money

The DTV Coupon Program Is Running Out Of Money

By 1.5.09

Well, it seems like there are a lot of people with analog tvs that watch programming using an antenna— because the DTV coupon program says it’s nearing the program’s $1.34 billion funding limit.

Retailers Beg Government To Create Tax-Free Shopping Holidays To Save Them

Retailers Beg Government To Create Tax-Free Shopping Holidays To Save Them

By cwalters 12.24.08

The National Retail Federation has asked President-elect Obama to declare three tax-free shopping holidays next year.

Looking For A Job? The Foreign Service Is Hiring

Looking For A Job? The Foreign Service Is Hiring

By cwalters 12.22.08

The New York Times reports that the freeze on Foreign Service hiring has been lifted, so if you’re willing to endure being moved to a new (occasionally dangerous) country every 2 to 3 years…

«Previous Page
Next Page»