The Department of Veterans Affairs progress toward a paperless records system was halted Oct. 8 when the partial federal government shutdown stopped all software development by the department. The latest negative impact on the nation’s veterans prompted a strong response from American Legion National Commander Daniel Dellinger. On Oct. 8, VA was forced to furlough… Keep reading →
Federal
Sen. Ayotte To Air Force: Get Me A-10 Answers; Keeps SecAF Nominee Hold
By Colin Clark, Breaking Defense
CAPITOL HILL: While the federal government remains supine and Congress fails to pass appropriations bills, at least one lawmaker is engaged in a classic use of senatorial privilege: placing a hold on the nomination of a senior administration official. Sen. Kelly Ayotte, who has made clear her unease with what appears to be the Air… Keep reading →
Obama Will Use Shutdown to Permanently Close the Small Business Administration, According to the American Small Business League
By businesswireThe American Small Business League (ASBL) is predicting President Obama will use the government shutdown as an excuse to permanently shutdown the Small Business Administration (SBA). Ronald Reagan tried to close the SBA by combing it with the Department of Commerce. Obama has resurrected Reagan’s exact same plan to close the SBA by combing it… Keep reading →
CEA Supports FAA Recommendations to Allow Airline Passengers Expanded In-Flight use of Electronics Devices
By businesswireToday, the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA)® announced support for a U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) advisory committee recommendation that airline passengers be allowed, with limited exceptions, to use typical handheld or lightweight electronics devices – such as tablets and e-readers – at all altitudes of flight on airplanes assessed to be resilient to radio interference…. Keep reading →
Study Says Retailers Have Shared Debit Swipe Fee Savings But Consumers Could Save More if Fed Set Cap Lower
By businesswireThe National Retail Federation welcomed a new study released today that shows retailers have passed along the majority of the savings from debit card swipe fee reform to their customers, and that the resulting increase in consumer spending has boosted job creation across the country. But the study also shows that benefits for consumers and… Keep reading →
In The New Deal and Modern American Conservatism: A Defining Rivalry, Davenport and Lloyd Highlight a Back-to-Basics Approach for Reviving the Conservative Movement
By businesswireHoover Institution Press today released The New Deal and Modern American Conservatism: A Defining Rivalry, by Hoover research fellow David Davenport and Pepperdine professor of public policy Gordon Lloyd. This thought-provoking book illustrates how the twenty-first-century discourse between progressives and conservatives grew out of the Roosevelt-Hoover debate of the 1930s. Providing an often-overlooked historical perspective, the authors… Keep reading →
In a statement issued Sept. 28, the Department of Veterans Affairs warned that funding for veterans benefits “will run out by late October” if the federal government shuts down. “At that point, VA will be unable to make any payments.” While claims processors at the Veterans Benefits Administration would continue working after a shutdown, funding… Keep reading →
Almost 85 percent of the health plans offered in the Exchange Marketplaces launching October 1 are accredited by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), a strong presence confirming NCQA’s role as a leader in health care quality. “The overwhelming preference for NCQA Accreditation is a gratifying reminder that NCQA is the gold standard in… Keep reading →
National security cannot be diminished in the event of a federal government shutdown, American Legion National Commander Daniel M. Dellinger said Monday. “The political impasse that is threatening to shut down the U.S. government cannot and must not compromise the readiness and welfare of our armed forces and their support personnel,” said Dellinger, who leads… Keep reading →
Furlough Inferno: The Crazy Inconsistencies Of A Government Shutdown
By Sydney Freedberg, Breaking Defense
WASHINGTON: This summer’s unpaid leave for federal workers was unpleasant enough. If the government shuts down October 1st, though, this fall’s furloughs are just going to be crazy. A patchwork of legal exceptions and grey areas will not only prevent most federal civilians from getting work done but, indirectly, keep many military servicemembers from getting… Keep reading →