Offers for fee-based credit cards on the rise while overall offers shrink significantly
Source: Synovate
US households are receiving far fewer offers for credit cards these days and, increasingly, the offers they do receive are for cards carrying an annual fee according to Mail Monitor, the direct mail tracking service from Synovate.
During Q1 2009, US households received 372.4 million offers, representing a dramatic 67% drop from the 1131.6 million offers received during Q1 2008. Twenty-seven percent of offers carried an annual fee during Q1 2009, up from 18% one year ago.
“As issuers continue to cut back offers and the mailbox becomes more superprime we are seeing a proportionately higher number of card offers with an annual fee,” said Andrew Davidson, Vice President of Competitive Tracking Services for Synovate’s Financial Services Group.
Fee based cards now reflect an increasing proportion of both reward/rebate and non-reward/rebate card solicitations. In Q1 2009, 24% of reward/rebate offers carried an annual fee versus 18% in Q1 2008. At the same time, 42% of non-reward/rebate offers carried an annual fee versus 19% in the prior year.
+ Fee-Based Card Analysis (PDF; 86 KB)
The Balance of Power: Central and Local Government (PDF; 1.6 MB)
Source: House of Commons Communities and Local Government Committee
The balance of power between central and local government matters. It matters because improving the lives of local people and local communities matters, and because where the balance of power between central and local government lies, there lies the responsibility and accountability for the delivery of those improvements.
Even more fundamentally, it matters because the strength of Britain’s famously unwritten constitution depends upon a strong democracy, and a strong democracy requires two important elements; popular participation at the local level; and popular participation at the national level. The two are interconnected. If popular participation at the grass roots continues to decline in this country, then the national body politic will not be immune from the consequences. Flourishing grass roots are only likely where local people understand what local government is responsible for in terms of both policy and resources, where they can hold to account local government for its performance, and where, crucially, they believe that local government can make a real difference.
Whilst we acknowledge the need for central government to set and monitor national strategic goals, local government must have its own autonomy. Local authorities should have the freedom to shape the development of their communities and the scope to unlock the full potential of local innovation. Our report considers how far away we are at present from such an equitable balance of power arrangement in England, and the scope for further adjustment.
Immigration and the Labour Market - Theory, Evidence, Policy (PDF; 393.1 KB)
Source: Equality and Human Rights Commission
From the press release:
Immigration has been largely beneficial to the UK’s economy and has had little, or no, negative impact on the labour market, according to a major report released today by the Equality and Human Rights Commission. However, the report warns that less skilled workers are likely to face greater competition from immigrants in the current recession.
The report, released at a conference today attended by some of the world’s leading migration experts, reveals that net immigration of non-British nationals to the UK between 1997 and 2006 has been just over 2.2 million. The report also predicts that immigration from Eastern Europe has reached a high water mark, with natural turnover set to reduce the overall number of Eastern Europeans in the UK.
Speaking at the conference, Commission Chair Trevor Phillips argued that immigration has brought many benefits to the UK, and has not displaced large numbers of British workers or led to lower wages. However, he acknowledged that we need to take positive steps to defuse tensions that are being exacerbated by the recession.
The Commission is proposing a package of measures to ensure that British workers get the skills they need to compete for jobs and that immigration policy complements efforts to rebuild and re-skill. They include:
Further investment in immigrant integration, such as drawing up a clear strategy at local and central government level, and greater investment in successful integration projects which bring different communities together. The Commission-funded Croeso project in Wales offers one such example.
During a recession, exploitation of some workers is likely to rise. The Commission has already launched a Formal Investigation into the meat packing industry and believes that greater enforcement of labour market standards and a review of regulation could benefit those most at risk.
The Commission believes that recent changes aimed at ensuring employers demonstrate that they have exhausted all possibilities for finding British workers to fill a role before they are allowed to bring in a migrant worker from outside the EU are important. However, net immigration will continue and Government could examine ways to ensure the country is ready for the upturn. One way would be to change the entry criteria in favour of those most able to contribute to recovery, such as low-carbon experts or those in the knowledge economy.
Providing more support for those who have lost out from the recession and competition from immigrants is also important. For example, the Government could expand training programmes and examine non-compulsory ways of supplementing the income of those taking up training or new jobs.
Greater leadership and engagement with the issues at a central and local government level, as well as unions, businesses and others in civil society.
New Study Reveals Scope of Drug and Crime Connection; As Many as 87 Percent of People Arrested for Any Crime Test Positive for Drug Use
Source: Office of National Drug Control Policy
Today, the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) released data from the 2008 Arrestee Drug Abuse Monitoring Program (ADAM II), the only Federal drug survey which tests for drugs in addition to relying on interview data. The report, which surveys drug use among booked male arrestees in 10 major metropolitan areas across the country, shows the majority of arrestees in each city test positive for illicit drug use, with as many as 87 percent of arrestees testing positive for an illegal drug.
According to the ADAM II report, drug use among the arrestee population is much higher than in the general U.S. population. The percentage of booked arrestees testing positive for at least one illicit drug ranged from 49 percent in Washington, D.C. to 87 percent in Chicago. The most common substances present during tests, in descending order, are marijuana, cocaine, opiates, and methamphetamine. Additionally, many arrestees tested positive for more than one illegal drug at the time of arrest; from 15 percent in Atlanta to 40 percent in Chicago. Data on drug use, drug markets, treatment utilization, and criminal offenses were collected among booked arrestees in jails within 48 hours of their booking and in the following counties and cities: Fulton County and City of Atlanta; Mecklenburg County (Charlotte, NC); Cook County (Chicago, IL); Denver County (Denver, CO); Marion County (Indianapolis, IN); Hennepin County (Minneapolis, MN); Manhattan (New York, NY), Multnomah County (Portland, OR); Sacramento County (Sacramento, CA) and Washington, D.C. (District of Columbia).
CREW releases “You Don’t Know Jack” — a map to Rep. Murtha’s web of special interests
Source: Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington
Today, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) released You Don’t Know Jack, an interactive graphic illustrating the vast reach of Rep. Jack Murtha’s (D-PA) tentacles. Rep. Murtha has been anointed the “King of Pork,” a title he shrugs off, stating, “If I’m corrupt, it’s because I take care of my district.” Indeed, Rep. Murtha takes excellent care of his district; in 2008 he earmarked $192 million for entities in his district and has requested $134 million in earmarks for the benefit of his district in the first half of 2009. Rep. Murtha has a long practice of trading lucrative earmarks for generous campaign donations. CREW’s new interactive graphic will allow visitors to explore the crooked connections between the lawmaker and the numerous special interests.
Tax collectors worldwide to co-operate in revenue-raising to offset fiscal deficits
Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, Center for Tax Policy and Administration
With governments facing soaring budget deficits as they seek to combat the global economic slump, tax authorities from around the world have agreed on a new cooperation plan to encourage tax compliance and counter tax evasion and abusive tax avoidance, with special focus on banks, wealthy individuals and offshore activities.
…
Two reports issued at the fifth meeting of the OECD’s Forum on Tax Administration, which brings together tax commissioners from 34 OECD and non-OECD countries, set out a roadmap for future cooperation:
- ‘Building Transparent Tax Compliance by Banks’ (PDF; 52 KB) examines the role of banks in designing complex structured finance transactions that can be used to reduce tax payments through aggressive tax planning schemes for themselves or their clients.
- ‘Engaging with High Net Worth Individuals on Tax Compliance’ (PDF; 49 KB) identifies risks and complexities associated with this group of taxpayers.
AAAS Report Warns that New Lab Security Measures Could Undercut Biological Research
Source: American Association for the Advancement of Science
The proliferation of non-government laboratories handling dangerous microorganisms, combined with a troubling incident or two, has prompted the government to consider costly new security measures that scientists fear may be unnecessary and could do more harm than good, according to a new report.
A review of existing biosafety training programs, conducted by two units of AAAS, found that the programs “may already address concerns” that have arisen in Congress and the executive branch about the reliability of personnel at the laboratories, known as high-containment facilities. The report recommends that, before instituting new requirements, the government should “consider existing employment and biosafety training practices… as they may already contribute to vetting of personnel” and the prevention of “malicious actors or unstable personnel” from gaining access to hazardous pathogens.
More than two dozen experts in biosafety, biosecurity and life sciences, as well as architects and engineers, participated in the study, which is based in large part on a workshop they attended at AAAS earlier this year.
Participants warn that security requirements should not become so intrusive or rigid that they hamper vital research and discourage talented researchers from working in the field.
Dealers That Purchase And Resell Animals Not Necessary for NIH-Funded Research
Source: National Research Council
It is not necessary for researchers funded by the National Institutes of Health to acquire “random source” dogs and cats — which come from the general animal population — from Class B dealers that purchase and resell animals, says a new report from the National Research Council. Alternative sources are available to meet NIH-funded research needs, including direct acquisition from pounds and shelters, donation programs, cooperative pre-clinical trials, Class A dealers that breed animals on their premises, NIH-supported resource and research development, and existing NIH-supported and privately owned colonies.
More than 1,000 Class B dealers exist, which include pet distributors, but only 11 can acquire and sell live dogs and cats classified as random source for research. Yet, not all 11 dealers provide live animals for NIH research, and random source animals can be obtained from other resources besides Class B dealers. However, the demand for and use of random source animals in research has declined over the past 30 years. The declining trend suggests that the Class B dealer system may eventually become unavailable.
The report says under some circumstances, random source dogs and cats may be desirable or necessary for NIH-funded research, because they provide a genetically diverse study group; are models for research on naturally occurring diseases such as cancer, infectious diseases, and age-related diseases; and can exhibit characteristics that may not be available in animals bred specifically for research.
Read full report for free online. (National Academies Press)
Crime in the United States: Preliminary Annual Uniform Crime Report
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation
From press release:
According to the FBI’s Preliminary Annual Uniform Crime Report released today, the nation experienced a 2.5 percent decrease in the number of violent crimes and a 1.6 percent decline in the number of property crimes for 2008 compared with data from 2007. The report is based on information that the FBI gathered from 12,750 law enforcement agencies that submitted six to 12 comparable months of data to the FBI for both 2007 and 2008.
From a NextGov Article About the New Intelligence Publication:
The public affairs folks over at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence were kind enough to send me a copy of a handbook that is distributed to intelligence professionals, which, among other things, highlights some top-secret networks that until now have been, well, top secret.
Steven Aftergood, an analyst at the Federation of American Scientists, who directs the organization’s Project on Government Secrecy, said about half the classified networks revealed in the 2009 “National Intelligence: A Consumer’s Guide” handbook (really, that’s the name) are new to him.
Direct to: National Intelligence: A Consumer’s Guide, 2009 (114 pages; PDF)
Source: Office of the Director of National Intelligence
Recognition and Alleviation of Pain in Laboratory Animals
Source: Institute for Laboratory Animal Research
Recognition and Alleviation of Pain in Laboratory Animals (2009) provides guidelines for those involved in the care and use of animals in the research environment. It aims to increase awareness of the sources and recognition of pain in laboratory animals and to increase ethical sensitivity in those who use and care for them.
Minimizing and alleviating pain in laboratory animals without compromising the methodological integrity of a research project is important both ethically and legally. Fortunately, recent scientific progress has expanded the understanding of pain and increased the ability to prevent and alleviate it in laboratory animals.
New GAO Reports and Correspondences
Source: Government Accountability Office
1 June 2009
+ Reports
1. Hospital Emergency Departments: Crowding Continues to Occur, and Some Patients Wait Longer than Recommended Time Frames
Related Product: Hospital Emergency Departments: Bibliography
2. Privacy and Security: Food and Drug Administration Faces Challenges in Establishing Protections for Its Postmarket Risk Analysis System
3. New Markets Tax Credit: Minority Entities Are Less Successful in Obtaining Awards than Non-Minority Entities
4. Crop Insurance: Opportunities Exist to Reduce the Costs of Administering the Program
–
+ Correspondences
1. Federal Employees Health Benefits Program: Enrollee Cost Sharing for Selected Specialty Prescription Drugs
2. Nuclear Forensics: Comprehensive Interagency Plan Needed to Address Human Capital Issues
3. Defense Management: Observations on DOD’s Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Request for Corrosion Prevention and Control
Republican Base Heavily White, Conservative, Religious
Source: Gallup
More than 6 in 10 Republicans today are white conservatives, while most of the rest are whites with other ideological leanings; only 11% of Republicans are Hispanics, or are blacks or members of other races. By contrast, only 12% of Democrats are white conservatives, while about half are white moderates or liberals and a third are nonwhite.
Audit of VA’s Management of Information Technology Capital Investments (PDF; 271 KB)
Source: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General
The Office of Inspector General (OIG) conducted an audit to evaluate whether VA was managing its information technology (IT) capital investments effectively and efficiently. The audit objectives were to determine why VA was late in submitting Exhibit 300s (an agency’s funding justifications for IT capital investments) to the Office of Management and Budget for budget year 2010 and if VA had implemented the corrective actions needed to prevent delinquent Exhibit 300 submissions in the future.
We concluded that OI&T did not have effective policies, procedures, and management controls in place to ensure that VA managed its IT capital investments effectively, efficiently, and in accordance with applicable criteria. OI&T failed to submit Exhibit 300s for BY 2010 to OMB by the September 8, 2008, deadline. In addition, OI&T has not successfully implemented appropriate management controls to ensure that it does not miss future Exhibit 300 submission deadlines. More importantly, OI&T’s delayed submission of VA’s Exhibit 300s signifies a much broader and more serious issue—VA’s inability to adequately manage and ensure effective oversight of its IT capital investments. For example, OI&T has not fully defined and documented new centralized management policies and procedures needed for effective IT capital investment management. OI&T has also not clearly defined the roles of IT governance boards responsible for facilitating budget oversight and management of IT capital investments or established the criteria the boards will use to select, review, and assess IT capital investments.
The Acting Assistant Secretary for Information and Technology concurred with the recommendations and provided acceptable improvement plans. We consider all review issues to be resolved and will follow up on the implementation of planned improvement actions.
Perceptions of Long-term Care and the Economic Recession
Source: AARP Policy & Research
Key findings include the following:
- In 2008, most respondents (42%) said that if they required LTC, they expected to live at home and have an aide for a few hours each day. This proportion increased slightly (49%) in 2009 as a result of the economic downturn.
- In 2008, 29% said they never thought about or did not know where they would receive LTC services; in 2009, this figure dropped to 22%.
- About half of respondents (51%) said they feel very or fairly prepared to financially deal with a situation in which they would suddenly require LTC for an indefinite period of time, while more than four in ten said they are not very (18%) or not at all prepared (25%).
- Older respondents (age 65+) and those with higher incomes (over $25,000 annually) were more likely to say they feel financially prepared for LTC than their counterparts.
- Men were more likely than women to say they never thought about or did not know where they would receive LTC services (in 2008, 36% versus 23%; in 2009, 27% versus 18%).
+ Full Report (PDF; 292 KB)
