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Congress drives CIO authorities deeper down at USDA, Justice, State

December 24, 2022 Congress, down, Justice, deeper, drives, authorities, USDA, state0 comment

While the spotlight shines brightest on the fiscal 2023 omnibus bill around which agency got how much money and for which programs, federal employees can’t lose sight of the consolidated appropriations bill as a key policy document. Scattered throughout the 4,100 page bill, there are nuggets of new or ongoing requirements that impact every part of an agency’s mission. The Senate passed the omnibus bill Dec. 22 by a vote of 68 to 29. At the same time, the language lawmakers’ use provides insight into what they are paying attention…

Zelenskyy eyeing trip to Washington as Pentagon plays down Belarus threat

December 20, 2022 Washington, trip, Pentagon, Threat, plays, eyeing, Belarus, Zelenskyy, down0 comment

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is traveling to Washington perhaps as soon as Wednesday for talks with Biden administration officials and an address to Congress on the state of the 10-month war with Russia, according to multiple news reports. The Washington Times stories: White House

Biden team is cautiously optimistic about slowing down monkeypox in NYC, Chicago, San Francisco

August 26, 2022 Francisco, Chicago, about, Biden, optimistic, team, slowing, cautiously, monkeypox, down0 comment

The White House said Friday it is “cautiously” optimistic about a slowdown in the rise of monkeypox cases in key cities and that it has almost enough Jynneos vaccines to give two doses to Americans who are at the highest risk for the virus. The Washington Times stories: White House

‘Wild West’: California Aims to Crack Down on Major Retailers Over Plastic Bag Violations

December 29, 2021 California, aims, Major, West, Retailers, plastic, violations, crack, Wild, down, Over0 comment

A California state commission requested that authorities crack down on retailers it accused of skirting plastic bag and pollution laws, Reuters reported. The California Statewide Commission on Recycling Markets and Curbside Recycling alleged that many retail businesses are selling plastic bags that are falsely labeled as being recyclable, according to Reuters. On Dec. 3, the state-appointed commission sent a letter to California Attorney General Rob Bonta and the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery, asking them to pursue legal means to prevent further violations. “It is a Wild West of recycling…

Enthusiasm wanes as Biden’s $1.75 trillion social welfare bill is delayed, watered down

December 18, 2021 Trillion, Delayed, Biden's, Welfare, wanes, $1.75, watered, down, Social, Bill, Enthusiasm0 comment

Democrats are beginning to wonder if President Biden’s $ 1.75 trillion social welfare legislation is worth the effort, especially after a lone holdout has watered down the bill and delayed its passage until next year. Lawmakers say Sen. Joe Manchin III, West Virginia Democrat, has forced the White House to trim … The Washington Times stories: White House

Democrats Need to Count Up, Not Down

November 28, 2021 Democrats, down, need, Count0 comment

With the finish line in sight (if still stubbornly out of reach) for the Democrats’ massive social-programs and economic development bill, the party now faces the challenge of focusing the attention of its key constituencies and the public on what remains in the package, not on what was cut in the exhausting legislative maneuvering. To meet the objections primarily of Democratic Senators Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, party leaders underwent a grueling process of shrinking the bill roughly in half—from about $ 3.5 trillion to…