At times reading the news, one has the impresion that New Jersey is the home of “double dipping” – the process by which an individual has two government jobs simultaneously and therefore collects benefits commensurate with two positions, or retires from one public job, starts collecting a pension and immediately begins a second public job. Of course, North Bergen in NJCU’s own county of Hudson has a triple-dippper – Nicholas Sacco. (Please read this Star-Ledger Editorial Board recent piece – Time to end double-dipping by N.J. public employees.) Well, we are not alone; this situation plagues every state and here is a database compiling the various laws dealing with this odious practice. Additional writings on this embedded tradition in New Jersey include: Ethical First Step: Ban Double Dipping (Hall Institute); Meet the Biggest “Triple Dipper’ in the New Jersey Statehouse (along with a list of 15 current legislators also collecting state pensions as well as other ‘double dipping” reports; from New Jersey Watchdog); Gov. Christie’s pension issue: N.J. probe looks at running mate, double-dipping (MSNBC); and N.J.legislators discuss “double-dipping” of pension and salary, reforms to public pension system (nj.com) And while the highly-touted pension reform legislation became law – P.L. 2011, chapter 78 - it did little to stop these egregious abuses.
Archive for Government
Additional Reports on Congress
The following CRS documents shed more light on the operations of Congress: Congressional Careers: Service Tenure and Patterns of Member Service, 1789-2011; Members of Congress Who Die in Office: Historic and Current Practices; Congressional Salaries and Allowances 2012; Use of the Capitol Rotunda and Capitol Grounds ; and Legislative Branch Agency Appointments: History, Processes, and Recent Proposals.
What Countries’ Constitutions Guarantee Equality for Women?
Given that the United States seems incapable of securing equal rights for women in its governing documents (read this informative overview , consult this timeline, and read the Declaration of Sentiments), do not be surprised that we did not make this list from the Law Library of Congress. But Angola made the list, as did Turkey, Albania, and Macedonia to name a few. Each of the countries has equality or non-discrimination provisions built into its constitution; many have both types of provisions spelled out. Every year, the Equal Rights Amendment is re-introduced to Congress; the last time in 2011, it was sponsored by New Jersey’s own Senator Robert Menendez.
Congressional Characteristics as Compared to the U.S. Population Since 1945
When your Congressperson tells you that he/she is just like you, is that true? This new report from CRS – Representatives and Senators: Trends in Member Characteristics Since 1945 – examines the correlation between Congressional demographic statistics and U.S. figures over time. Selected Congresses are looked at through the lenses of race, education, religious affiliation, military service, etc. and then compared against the U.S. population as a whole. For example, in 1945, 24.1% of the American population had a high school diploma, while 75.7% of the House and 85.4% of the Senate had graduated high school. The figures are even more telling for college degrees: 4.6% of the general population had college degrees in 1945, while the House had 56% and the Senate had 75% of their members with degrees. These differences for both high school and college completion rates still exist today, even if the gaps have narrowed. Similar examinations are conducted with regards to various other characteristics, all accompanied by charts and footnotes.
Official Statistics for the European Union
Europe in Figures is the title of the Eurostat Yearbook, an annual publication that presents in chapter format a vast array of facts and figures on the European Union. From economy and finance through living conditions and social protection, this volume for 2012 (the 16th edition) presents updated statistical information more current than its printed counterpart. Each chapter is replete with figures, tables, and links. Not only are the EU countries represented but so are candidate countries as well as the United States and Japan for comparative purposes.
Foreign Born Population of New Jersey and the United States
Fully 21% of New Jersey’s population was born outside the United States, among the highest of the states, trailing only California and New York; the national number is 13%. This information and much more is found in The Foreign-Born Population of the United States: 2010 from the Census Bureau. “The report also examines differences among foreign-born region-of- birth groups on a wide range of topics that include age, sex, marital status, fertility, period of entry into the United States, naturalization and citizenship status, language, education, labor force participation, occupation, health insurance coverage, income and poverty.” Other recent Census Bureau reports include: The Foreign Born With Science and Engineering Degrees: 2010; Newly Arrived Foreign-Born Population of the United States: 2010; The Foreign Born From Latin America and the Caribbean:2010. Many more statistics are at the Current Population Survey 20110: Foreign Born section that includes almost 70 detailed tables.
President Obama’s Afghanistan Speeches of May 1
It was certainly a busy day for President Obama yesterday. He spoke on three different occasions from venues in Afghanistan: the first was at the signing of the Strategic Partnership Agreement with President Karzai; the second was with troops at the Bagram Air Base; and the third was a national address that dealt with ending the American presence in Afghanistan by 2014.
Use of Drones Against Terrorists
Remarkable for its public discussion of the United States and its drone policy, John Brennan’s speech (courtesy of C-SPAN) at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars laid out in a detailed fashion the Obama administration’s use and justification for drones. And as drones are employed abroad and are about to be employed in U.S. airspace soon, it is important to review this situation. The text of the speech is here. Additional news/commentary is at: Washington Post, Politico, NPR, and The New York Times. Background information on drones is at: Council on Foreign Relations, Times Topics, Scientific American, Brookings Institution, and RAND. An absolute must read is this January 2012 report - U.S. Unmanned Aerial Systems from CRS.
Updated Statistics on Every U.S. County
This site contains data from over 6000 sets published by a wide variety of government sources from the Census Bureau to the Department of Labor. Every county is listed along with state totals as well. You can drill down through topics such as “water usage,” “veteran” status, and “unemployment” rates. Many of the data sets here allow you to go back twenty years (in the case of population figures, back to 1930) for a comparative look. The default searching gives a general overview, while selecting topics from the pulldown menu open up a treasure trove of additional information. Just examine the statistics for NJCU’s home county of Hudson to see the wealth of information contained here.
State and Local Government Health Care Plans
The just-released National Compensation Survey: Health Plans Provisions in State and Local Government in the United States, 2011 provides detailed information on a national level as to the provision of health care benefits: vision, dental, outpatient prescription, selected benefits by type of plan, etc. This 300 page document proceeds to analyze the data by geographic region, income level, and industry sector (including higher education). Another informative report is this April 2012 report – Employment-Based Health Benefits: Trends in Access and Coverage, 1997-2010 - that shows a downward trend in employers offering medical benefits to workers.
2011 Tax Returns for the Obamas and the Bidens Released
For those interested in these matters, the returns for both couples are here. Reportage/commentary are at: CNN, The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Politico.
Pending 2012 New Jersey Bills on Retirement and Pensions
As of this writing, the Pensions and Retirement Legislature Database lists 24 bills under consideration by the New Jersey Legislature that have a direct impact on retirement and pensions. This database is updated bi-weekly and contains a brief history of each bill. In addition, every bill has its number attached to it; you can see the full text of each bill by going to the Bills 2012-2013 page of the NJ Legislature.
Arguments Before the Supreme Court on Health Care Reform
While we have no objection to the frenzy surrounding Tim Tebow’s introduction to the New York media today, we would like to point to a more momentous occurrence in Washington, D.C. – the three days’ of oral arguments over health care reform before the Supreme Court. Being as there will be NO electronic recording devices in the Court, information will be handed out in dribs and drabs as reporters exit the hearings, file their observations, and go back into the hearings. Audio recordings and unofficial transcripts will be generated as quickly as possible by the Court. Here are several excellent sources of information, presented in accessible language without the legal obfuscation that clouds minds: Health Care Reform and the Supreme Court (Times Topics, with guide, background materials, and additional links); The Court and Health Care Reform (Oyez Today, contains briefs, filings, arguments of the original cases that have wound their way up the judicial ladder); Health Care Resource Page (SCOTUSblog, includes in-depth reviews of the individual cases along with numerous links, one the best ways of keeping up with what is happening anytime at the Court); Supreme Court Oral Arguments on Health Care (C-SPAN, video resources of the various court cases that have preceded today’s oral arguments as well as providing same-day audio recordings of said arguments); and these CRS reports -Health-Related Revenue Provisions in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (April 2010), Health Care: Constitutional Rights and Legislative Powers (April 2010), and Grandfathered Health Plans Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA (January 2011).
Lack of Foreign Language Skills is a National Security Issue
As U.S. Education Reform and National Security from the Council on Foreign Relations states: “The lack of language skills and civic and global awareness among American citizens increasingly jeopardize their ability to interact with local and global peers or participate meaningfully in business, diplomatic,and military situations. The United States is not producing enough foreign-language speakers to staff important posts in the U.S. Foreign Service, the intelligence community, and American companies.”(11) This finding combined with other weaknesses that have been covered in this blog in previous entries (here, here, and here), present a grave risk to America’s competitive standing in the world and undermine its ability to interact with other countries and cultures in a competent manner. The report continues, bemoaning the fact that public schools have largely abandoned the teaching of civics. citizenship, and cultural awareness.(15) Pointing to various national and international tests (refer to entries above), the report shows how the United States is lagging behind in so many areas. To remedy this situtaion, the report lists three recommendations: expand the Common Core State Standards to include subjects vital to national security such as languages, science, and technology; “enhanced choice and competition” [charter schools]; and accountability.(44-45) The report also includes dissenting opinions by some of the 30-member task force (a CFR trademark feature) as well as informative endnotes. News/reactions/opinions are at: The New York Times; Christian Science Monitor; Education Week (via HispanicBusiness.com); Wall Street Journal; BloombergNews, and PBSNewsHour (via YouTube).
New Jersey Least Corrupt State in the Nation
We know some may not believe the heading of this entry, but according to this report – State Integrity Investigation- New Jersey ranks highest in the number of laws governing state-level ethics and the efforts to enforce them. The report gives us this insight: “I’m still in shock,” Senate Majority Leader Lorretta Weinberg (D-Bergen) said, laughing. “If we’re number one, I feel bad for the rest of the states.” (From How Did New Jersey Finish First?) Indeed, New Jersey scored a B+ overall because: “…New Jersey’s strong points are clear: extensive financial disclosure requirements for the governor, a transparently-run pension fund, and an aggressive ethics enforcement agency. The state also boasts some of the nation’s toughest anti-pay-to-play laws for contractors.”(from Overview) Just a little over 50% of the states received a D or F rating. Here is the complete New Jersey report. All the other states are available as well; each report lists the questions asked, the answers received, and the enabling legislation. In addition, each state report is accompanied by selected news articles highlighting ethics (or lack thereof).
British Cabinet Papers, 1915-1981
The British Cabinet, comprised of the prime minister and his departmental ministers, controls governmental policies and coordinates the various departmental activities of the government. Its memos, deliberations, conclusions, and the like are contained in this site. The papers can be searched by theme, keyword, or year. With each theme, there is usually a linked essay along with relevant documents in full text (a word of caution: not all the themes have papers available, but a vast majority do). Accompanying this collection is a “Government who’s who” containing brief biographies of the prime ministers along with a listing of their cabinet officers as well as full text collections of Cabinet papers generated during their tenure. Much valuable information can be garnered from this site; not just the world wars but also the interwar period is well-represented. A great site for primary sources.
Listen to the National Anthems of the World
The CIA’s World Factbook now hosts audio files for most of the world’s national anthems. Just pick a country, select the “government” tab, and scroll to the bottom of the list where you will find the national anthems along with some interesting information, For example, did you know that Japan’s national anthem has the oldest lyrics in the world, dating back to the tenth century? Or that the music for Brazil’s anthem was composed in 1822 and played for many years until it was officially adopted in 1890?
Representative Gabrielle Giffords Resigns from Congress
This morning, Representative Gabrielle Giffords, greviously wounded last January, submitted her resignation to House Speaker Boehner. Her letter and video of her resignation can both be found at C-SPAN. A brief biography is available. Information on her voting record, stands on issues, public statements, ratings by interest groups, and campaign finances are here.
President Obama’s 2012 State of the Union Speech
His speech, a transcript of said speech, the Republican counter-speech, and various interviews are all aggregated at this C-SPAN site. Highlights of the speech are available courtesy of CBS News, along with analysis. Additional reportage is at: USA Today (includes a “fact check” of the speech); the Washington Post (with its own well-established “The Fact Checker“); The New York Times (along with “Choice Words” – a tally of selected words used by President Obama in his SOTU speeches and by the Republican presidential candidates in their debates, interviews, and speeches); and The New Yorker. A very informative essay, accompanied by a linked listing of all previous SOTU messages and speeches, can be found at the American Presidency Project. Here is an interesting article from the Christian Science Monitor on how the foreign press viewed this speech.
Two Unions Sign Contracts with New Jersey
Two smaller unions representing about 5000 state workers have signed contracts with the state. The contracts, which are retroactive to July 1, 2011, call for no raises in the first two years, followed by raises of 1% in the third year and 1.75% in the fourth year. New coverage is at: The Star-Ledger, and Bloomberg (in which Governor Christie says he expects similar concessions from the other unions).
