Friday, June 19, 2015

Truck Standards/ Cost of ACA Repeal

Missoulian: EPA proposes tougher mileage standards for trucks
EPA, DOT Propose Greenhouse Gas and Fuel Efficiency Standards for Heavy-Duty Trucks
“The proposed standards are expected to lower CO2 emissions by approximately 1 billion metric tons, cut fuel costs by about $170 billion, and reduce oil consumption by up to 1.8 billion barrels over the lifetime of the vehicles sold under the program. These reductions are nearly equal to the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with energy use by all U.S. residences in one year. The total oil savings under the program would be greater than a year’s worth of U.S. imports from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).”


Missoulian: Congressional budget analysts: Repeal of Obama health law hikes GDP, increases budget deficits
Budgetary and Economic Effects of Repealing the Affordable Care Act
“Over the past several years, a number of proposals have been advanced for repealing the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which became law in March 2010. In this report, CBO and the staff of the Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) analyze the main budgetary and economic consequences that would arise from repealing that law.”

Wednesday, June 17, 2015

Trapping/ U.S. Trade/ Uranium Plant Cleanup

Missoulian: Trapping opponents try again to get ban on Montana ballot
2016 Proposed Ballot Issues
“A citizen proposed ballot issue can only appear on the 2016 general election ballot once the proposed language has fulfilled three requirements. First, the language must be submitted to Montana’s Legislative Services Division. Second, the Montana Attorney General must conduct a legal review. Finally, after the review process is complete, and the sponsor has been notified by the Secretary of State of the approval or rejection of the ballot issue, the sponsor must collect sufficient verified signatures from qualified voters in Montana.”


Tuesday, June 16, 2015

Tropical Storm Bill/ Commercial Facial Recognition/ Federal Employee Data Theft

Missoulian: The Latest: Tropical Storm Bill about to make Texas landfall
Tropical Storm Bill approaches Texas coast in the Gulf of Mexico
“Tropical Storm Bill is approaching the Texas coast with winds at 60 mph with higher gusts. The primary threat from Tropical Storm Bill is heavy rainfall, leading to widespread flash flooding through midweek across Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri and Illinois.” 

Missoulian: Push for facial recognition privacy standards hits roadblock
Privacy Multistakeholder Process: Facial Recognition Technology
“This web page provides details on the NTIA-convened privacy multistakeholder process regarding the commercial use of facial recognition technology. On December 3, 2013, NTIA announced that the goal of the second multistakeholder process is to develop a voluntary, enforceable code of conduct that specifies how the Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights applies to facial recognition technology in the commercial context.”


Missoulian: Fed personnel agency admits history of security problems
Information About the Recent Cybersecurity Incident
“Through the course of the ongoing investigation into the cyber intrusion that compromised personnel records of current and former Federal employees announced on June 4, OPM has recently discovered that additional systems were compromised. These systems included those that contain information related to the background investigations of current, former, and prospective Federal government employees, as well as other individuals for whom a Federal background investigation was conducted.”

Monday, June 15, 2015

Supreme Court Rullings: Bankruptcy Fees/ Immigration Deadlines/ Spouse Visa

Missoulian: High court rules against law firm in bankruptcy fee fight
6/15/15 - Baker Botts L.L.P. v. ASARCO LLC
“Held: Section §330(a)(1) does not permit bankruptcy courts to award fees to §327(a) professionals for defending fee applications.”

Missoulian: High court says immigration deadlines can be extended
6/15/15 - Reyes Mata v. Lynch
“If Mata is not entitled to relief on the merits, then the correct disposition is to take jurisdiction and affirm the BIA’s denial of his motion. For a court retains jurisdiction even if a litigant’s request for relief lacks merit, see Steel Co. v. Citizens for Better Environment, 523 U. S. 83, 89, and a federal court has a “virtually unflagging obligation,” Colorado River Water Conservation Dist. v. United States, 424 U. S. 800, 817, to assert jurisdiction where it has that authority.”


Missoulian: Court: Spouse can't protest husband's visa denial
6/15/15 - Kerry v. Din
“Respondent Fauzia Din petitioned to have her husband, Kanishka Berashk, a resident citizen of Afghanistan and former civil servant in the Taliban regime, classified as an “immediate relative” entitled to priority immigration status. Din’s petition was approved, but Berashk’s visa application was ultimately denied.”