just what did he say?

While this should end up in the Public Papers of the President, read and listen to President Bush's prime time address to the nation.

government docs in the news: more on signing statements

A month ago, the President signed H.R. 6407 into law, otherwise known as the The Postal Enhancement and Accountability Act. According to an article in the Washington Post (1/5/07), Bush's signing statement (which have already come under scrutiny) hints to the idea that this Bill will allow the reading of personal mail without a search warrant. The key phrase in question:

"... which provides for opening of an item of a class of mail otherwise sealed against inspection, in a manner consistent, to the maximum extent permissible, with the need to conduct searches in exigent circumstances, such as to protect human life and safety against hazardous materials, and the need for physical searches specifically authorized by law for foreign intelligence collection."

While the original law does provide for circumstances which may involve explosives or powdery substances that may, in fact, harm human life, that last part might need to be unpacked a bit.

What happens when America's Attic Gets an Overhaul?

D.C.'s own Smithsonian Institution is in some luke warm water over a deal made with Showtime (luke warm because it's pretty much a done deal), essentially giving the media company exclusive rights to the institute's films. A report published by the Government Accountability Office, released last month details that the deal is unfair filmmakers. Boiling it down: filmmakers have about a 30% change of being able to use important, historic material.

The Smithsonian offered a response to the report

what color is your journalism?

How many of us read blogs to get our news? Several, I'm sure. The Blog-o-lution, particularly in the field of journalism, has proven a small but mighty sword (okay, perhaps maybe more like a Swiss Army knife) for all that media deregulation.The Daily Kos is getting in on that action with the Congressional Committees Project. Read the blog entry that started it all for all the details, but the short version: some people decided to take news reporting in their own hands by creating this wiki in order to keep tabs on the new committees once the new Congress starts. Heck, you can even pick your favorite committee and contribute.

you want cloned fries with that

Yesterday, the Food and Drug Administration announced that the meat and milk produced by cloned cows was of no threat to humans. It took a whole 678 pages to detail the arrival to this decision, but really what you want to know is: so what happens now?

A great question, and one that will allow me to demonstrate just what happens when a new regulation is proposed. See, before the FDA can get cloned cows to fly, the proposed regulation (that's what this is, because the agencies can't make laws, only Congress can do that) must be subject to comments from the public first, and a notice published in the Federal Register (which hasn't actually happened yet). Right now, this regulation is in the comment phase, and that means that the public gets to weigh in on this issue. So go ahead and exercise your right as a citizen of these United States and tell the FDA yay or nay. But do it quick! You've only got 90 days!

Gerald R. Ford: 1913-2006

The only president not officially elected to the office, President Ford leaves behind a legacy of leading the nation under a time of stress, most of which he inherited from the Nixon. The Gerald R. Ford Library and Museum provides a highlight reel of Ford administration documents.

is it 2010 yet?

The Census Bureau is gearing up for the next Decennial Census electronically by posting the 2010 Census page on their website. At this point, it's just an offering of information about the 2008 Dress Rehearsal and how to get a job as an enumerator. What it doesn't cover: how they're going to negotiate this being the first Decennial with no long form questionnaire!

what's your sign?

In another case of newspapers-as-government information portal news, check out the Washington Post's Votes Database, a list of all Congressional votes back to the 102nd Congress (that's 1991, for those of you keeping score). What does this site do that, say, Thomas doesn't? Well, aside from the regular, Democrat and Republican denominations, you can see how the votes split according to geography, age (though here, it's called "boomer status"), gender, and astrological sign. For example, we all know how HR 810 split along party lines, but betcha didn't know that the Tauruses had the most number of nays.

newspapers as government documents

A visit to the Library of Congress' Newspapers and Current Periodicals Reading Room might allow you to look at Colonial newspapers, particularly those that printed versions of state constitutions and the Declaration of Independence. These documents are pretty spectacular pieces that indicate the use of something we expect to show up on our doorstep (or in our internet browser these days) can function as a vehicle for posterity.

While perhaps not as dramatic, today's Washington Post includes a PDF of the Iraq Study Group Report's Executive Summary. A tiny morsel to give the general public information about those that govern.

For those who want to read the whole thing, go here

the Gates

Georgetown's Law Library has compiled everything you ever wanted to know about Robert M. Gates, the nominee to succeed Donald Rumsfeld as Secretary of Defense.

World AIDS Day

December 1st is the day we pause to honor those who have passed away and to recognize the efforts fighting this deadly disease. aids.gov details the government information about research, awareness, and resources.

Just Say No

Today, as proclaimed by President Bush, is National Methamphetamine Awareness Day. Meth use has increased greatly, particularly on the East coast (as opposed to the Midwest, where the most cases of meth abuse occur). The Justice department has published information on it's website educating the public about the drug and it's terrifying effects. Meth Awareness which gives users some pretty graphic illustrations (and I mean graphic! This site may not be suitable for folks with an aversion to disgusting images) of what meth can do to a person, and the more blog-like Meth Resources.

Yesterday, in Congress...

the House passed a resolution congratulating the St. Louis Cardinals on their World Series victory.

Presidential Press Conference

Today's was a big one... watch it here.

good fences make good neighbors...

As of yesterday, the Secure Fence Act of 2006 is now the law of the land. While we have to wait for this week's Weekly Comp comes out to read President Bush's Signing Statement, we have the transcript of what he said available on whitehouse.gov, along with video of the moment, and a handy fact sheet for the newly passed law.

social explorer

The Social Explorer is a joint effort from the National Science Digital Library and CUNY Queens College (with some funding from the New York Times, too). The idea is to provide visual maps of Census data, but with oomph than American Fact Finder. This is a dream come true for demographers who have probably been itching for some kind of visual tract representation for data other than the most recent Decennial. Social Explorer handles all sorts of socio-economic information dating back to the 1940 Census all the way down to the tract level. The result? an incredibly useful tool!
(this map is a visualization of Subway Development Contributions to City Expansion: 1905-1940)

now serving 300 million

In grand fanfare, the Census Bureau announced that the population of the United States has now reached 300 million. The arrival of this American on October 17th, complete witha countdown/tote board that would rile the envy of Jerry Lewis, displayed some fancy estimates and data the Census demographers.

nonproliferation in Korea

Sometimes, Congress can work fast! Note S 3728, a Bill to Promote Nuclear Nonproliferation in Korea. It was introduced in July and passed last Friday. All actions of the bill, as listed on thomas.gov are:

7/25/2006:
Submitted in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S8206-8208; text as passed Senate: CR S8207; text of measure as introduced: CR S8202)
7/25/2006 8:19pm:
Received in the House.
7/25/2006:
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
7/25/2006 9:07pm:
Held at the desk.
9/30/2006 12:36am:
Mr. Royce asked unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table and consider.
9/30/2006 12:36am:
Considered by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR 9/29/2006 H8044-8048)
9/30/2006 1:04am:
On passage Passed without objection. (text: CR 9/29/2006 H8047-8048)
9/30/2006 1:04am:
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
9/30/2006:
Cleared for White House.
10/5/2006:
Presented to President.
10/13/2006:
Signed by President.

Stay tuned for GPO's posting of the signing statement in the Weekly Comp!

read it in the manual

The U.S. Government Manual is a yearly output that details what the agencies (and quasi-agencies) are doing. Browse it, or search it!

surpeme arguments

It's the first Monday in October, the traditional opening for the new session of the Surpeme Court of the United States. Want to know what's on the books for 2006-07? Read the SCOTUS Argument Calendar for what we'll be talking about this Fall.