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How bad would a government shutdown really be?

September 22, 2023 would, government, really, shutdown0 comment

There are lots of reasons why its bad when politicians fail to appropriate money to keep the government going at the end of a fiscal year. This year’s shutdown brinksmanship is sharper than ever. So what’s so bad if the government shuts down for a few days or a month? Federal Drive with Tom Temin talked about a list of reasons with Vice President of Research for the Peter G. Peterson Foundation, Jeff Holland. Interview Transcript: Tom Temin And let’s go through your list, because the very first item on…

White House asks Congress to pass short-term funding bill to keep government operating

September 2, 2023 Bill, pass, shortterm, funding, Operating, Congress, House, White, Keep, asks, government0 comment

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House said Thursday that Congress should pass a short-term funding measure to ensure the government keeps operating after the current budget year ends Sept. 30. An official with the Office of Management and Budget said lawmakers would very likely need to pass a temporary spending measure in September to prevent a potential partial shutdown. The official was not authorized to discuss the administration’s plans and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. Without such congressional approval, parts of the federal government could shut…

All congressional eyes focus on the great question: CR or government shutdown?

August 21, 2023 government, Eyes, shutdown, great, question, congressional, focus0 comment

Congress is still a couple of weeks away from returning to Washington. Still, pressure is building for members to resolve a difficult budget impasse, as the prospects for a lapse in appropriations also seem to grow. For more, Federal Drive with Tom Temin spoke with Loren Duggan, Bloomberg Government’s Deputy News Director Loren. Interview Transcript: Tom Temin And absence, I guess, makes their hearts grow fonder. And the debates are in some level continuing here on what they will do about the budget, correct? Loren Duggan That is correct. I…

What do people really mean when they say government should operate like a business?

June 30, 2023 Should, they, government, really, like, mean, operate, People, Business0 comment

When the nearly endless debates over the debt ceiling were raging on, the United States didn’t look very businesslike to the rest of the world. Internally, though, you never stop hearing that federal agencies should operate more like a business. This is both true and not true, according to my next guest. The Federal Drive with Tom Temin got commentary from American University professor Bob Tobias. Interview Transcript: Tom Temin Somehow, at these times when things are stressful on the political front or whenever people turn to federal agencies like…

One hundred new ways the government gets wrapped around its axle

June 22, 2023 government, around, gets, Ways, hundred, wrapped, axle0 comment

Fragmentation, duplication and overlap. There is too much of it in government programs. It degrades economy and efficiency. Each year the Government Accountability Office (GAO) details instances of multiple agencies doing the same thing. This year GAO found what if calls “100 new matters for congressional consideration.” For the highlights, Federal Drive with Tom Temin spoke with Jessica Lucas-Judy, the GAO’s Director of Strategic Issues. Interview Transcript: Tom Temin And just briefly, for people that may not be aware of this great list every year, fragmentation, duplication, overlap. Just give…

This group says the federal government, for all the auctions, is still a spectrum hog

February 22, 2023 says, still, federal, government, This, group, Spectrum, auctions0 comment

A technology trade association is urging Congress to update the law that lets the [Federal Communications Commission (FCC)] auction off radio spectrum held by the government. In fact, the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation basically said the government continues to hog much spectrum that could be more efficiently used by industry. For details, Federal Drive with Tom Temin spoke with Joe Kane, ITIF’s Director of broadband and spectrum policy, Joe Kane. Interview transcript: Tom Temin It seems like we’ve been talking about spectrum for 25 years now. Joe Kane Yeah,…