New GAO Report (PDFs)
Source: Government Accountability Office
13 October 2009
1. Tax Gap: Limiting Sole Proprietor Loss Deductions Could Improve Compliance but Would Also Limit Some Legitimate Losses
Highlights ||| Full Report
Report Documents the Risks of Giant Invasive Snakes in the U.S.
Source: U.S. Geological Survey
Five giant non-native snake species would pose high risks to the health of ecosystems in the United States should they become established here, according to a U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) report released today.
The USGS report details the risks of nine non-native boa, anaconda and python species that are invasive or potentially invasive in the United States. Because all nine species share characteristics associated with greater risks, none was found to be a low ecological risk. Two of these species are documented as reproducing in the wild in South Florida, with population estimates for Burmese pythons in the tens of thousands.
Based on the biology and known natural history of the giant constrictors, individuals of some species may also pose a small risk to people, although most snakes would not be large enough to consider a person as suitable prey. Mature individuals of the largest species—Burmese, reticulated, and northern and southern African pythons—have been documented as attacking and killing people in the wild in their native range, though such unprovoked attacks appear to be quite rare, the report authors wrote. The snake most associated with unprovoked human fatalities in the wild is the reticulated python. The situation with human risk is similar to that experienced with alligators: attacks in the wild are improbable but possible.
+ Giant Constrictors: Biological and Management Profiles and an Establishment Risk Assessment for Nine Large Species of Pythons, Anacondas, and the Boa Constrictor
+ Research on introduced Florida snakes
+ What parts of the US mainland are climatically suitable for invasive alien pythons spreading from Everglades National Park?
+ Large Constrictor Snakes Frequently Asked Questions (PDF; 24 KB)
2009 Business Travel Awards
Source: Condé Nast Traveler
The twelfth annual business-travel survey couldn’t have come at a more crucial time. When better to take the pulse of business travelers than during an economic slowdown? And the results deliver some encouraging insights, as well as a few predictable ones: Compared with a year ago, 36 percent of our readers are booking less expensive hotels; 44 percent are spending more time shopping for lower fares; and more than 50 percent report that their companies have reduced the number of employees who hit the road. But that’s only half the story. Yes, 43 percent have reduced business-travel spending—but 12 percent have increased it. And one-fifth believe that their spending will return to pre-recession levels in a year or less. In the following pages, we present the best business-travel experiences, as judged by the people who know them best. Plus, a selection of new accessories and gadgets—for efficiency and fun.
Ranks U.S. airports, international airports, U.S. hotel chains, international hotel chains, transpacific routes/business class, transatlantic routes/business class, U.S. routes/business and first class, U.S. routes/single-class service.
Numbers and Types of Public Elementary and Secondary Schools From the Common Core of Data: School Year 2007-08 – First Look
Source: National Center for Education Statistics
This report presents findings on the numbers and types of public elementary and secondary schools in the United States and the territories in the 2007-08 school year, using data from the Public Elementary/Secondary School Universe Survey of the Common Core of Data (CCD) survey system.
+ Full Report (PDF; 321 KB)
Potential Impact of Health Reform on the Cost of Private Health Insurance Coverage (PDF; 582 KB)
Source: America’s Health Insurance Plans/PricewaterhouseCoopers
Key Findings
+ Health reform could have a significant impact on the cost of private health insurance
coverage.
+ There are four provisions included in the Senate Finance Committee proposal that could
increase private health insurance premiums above the levels projected under current law:
- Insurance market reforms coupled with a weak coverage requirement,
- A new tax on high-cost health care plans,
- Cost-shifting as a result of cuts to Medicare, and
- New taxes on several health care sectors.
+ The overall impact of these provisions will be to increase the cost of private insurance
coverage for individuals, families, and businesses above what these costs would be in
the absence of reform.
+ On average, the cost of private health insurance coverage will increase:
- 26 percent between 2009 and 2013 under the current system and by 40 percent
during this same period if these four provisions are implemented.- 50 percent between 2009 and 2016 under the current system and by 73 percent
during this same period if these four provisions are implemented.- 79 percent between 2009 and 2019 under the current system and by 111 percent
during this same period if these four provisions are implemented.
2009 Tribalization of Business Study
Source: Deloitte Development LLC
Deloitte LLP’s Technology, Media & Telecommunications (TMT) practice has recently released the results of the 2009 Tribalization of Business Study, which evaluates the perceived potential of online communities* and identifies how enterprises believe they may better leverage them. Conducted in conjunction with Beeline Labs and the Society for New Communications Research, this second edition of the Tribalization of Business Study measured the responses of more than 400 companies including Fortune 100 organizations which have created and maintain online communities today.
Survey results indicate that while enterprises are effectively using online tools to engage with customers, partners, and employees for brand discussion and idea generation, organizations are continuing to struggle with harnessing social media’s full potential. Firms of Deloitte LLP are meeting with clients to share these insights and strategize on how they can help their businesses use these potent business tools.
+ Highlights (PDF; 222 KB)
+ 2009 Tribalization of Business Study Highlights Flipbook (PDF; 134 KB)
Postsecondary Institutions and Price of Attendance in the United States: Fall 2008 and Degrees and Other Awards Conferred: 2007-08, and 12-Month Enrollment 2007-08
Source: National Center for Education Statistics
This First Look presents findings from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) fall 2008 data collection, which included three survey components: Institutional Characteristics for the 2008-09 academic year, Completions covering the period July 1, 2007, through June 30, 2008. and data on 12-Month Enrollment for the 2007-08 academic year. These data were collected through the IPEDS web-based data collection system.
+ Full Report (PDF; 1.1 MB)
United Nations Criminal Justice Standards for United Nations Police (PDF; 681 KB)
Source: United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the UN Department for Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO)
Building peace requires more than simply bringing an end to armed conflict; it also requires strengthening the rule of law. The international standards and norms summarized in the present handbook can assist in this critical process. The handbook summarizes the inter- national human rights and criminal justice principles that United Nations police personnel must know, abide by and promote when deployed in peacekeeping operations and special political missions. As such, it is designed to serve a dual purpose. Firstly, it is a code of conduct for police operating under the United Nations flag. Secondly, it is a reference source to help national authorities to improve policing.
Hat tip: UN Pulse
The Cost of Failure to Enact Health Reform: Implications for States
Source: Urban Institute
This paper used the Health Insurance Policy Simulation Model to examine the impact on insurance coverage in government, employer, and family spending in all 50 states in absence of reform. In all states employer sponsored insurance would fall, and Medicaid enrollment and the number of uninsured would increase. Employer spending would increase despite drops in coverage. Government spending for public health insurance programs and for financing of uncompensated care would increase. The results differ among states depending on the distribution of employees by firm size and wage levels, the breadth of coverage in public programs and projected population growth.
+ Full Report (PDF; 1.8 MB)
Health and wellbeing at work in the United Kingdom
Source: RAND Corporation
In 2009, the Work Foundation led a partnership with RAND Europe and Aston Business School undertaking the research and analysis to support the Boorman review. RAND Europe led the study on whether health workplace interventions could be useful to mitigate health risk factors and to reduce the work-related costs associated with poor health and wellbeing in British workplaces and the NHS in England. This report, prepared for the Department of Health, presents the main findings of the research.
Upgrading Britain’s nuclear deterrent: from V-Bombers to Trident replacement
Source: History and Policy
Executive Summary:
The debate taking place over the replacement of the Trident nuclear submarines involves the same complex interplay of elements which characterised previous discussions about upgrading Britain’s nuclear deterrent.
These elements are strategic, technological, diplomatic and political in nature, and stretch back to the replacement of the V-Bombers in the late 1950s and early 1960s.
Strategic arguments have continually stressed the ‘unknowable’ threats Britain might face in the future, and the need for an independent deterrent in case alliances collapse.
Technological advances forced the abandonment of any specifically ‘British’ weapons system during the Cold War and have continued to severely constrain the options available.
Diplomatic concerns have stressed the ‘value’ provided by the deterrent in bolstering British influence.
The domestic political context can play a pivotal role in shaping nuclear decision-making and it is not inconceivable that the current economic constraints could de-rail current government proposals.
Overall, the fear of risks to prestige and of military and strategic uncertainty over the long-term future have triumphed over concrete criticisms, resulting in repeated upgrades by the governments of the day: triumph of the much-derided ‘precautionary principle’
A recent report from the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR), however, has criticised Britain’s reliance on a United States-derived nuclear deterrent, stressing the need to explore alternatives such as the European dimension and emphasising the non-nuclear threats to Britain’s security- the emergence of the recognition of competing precautionary principles.
How Well Does Your State Constitution Protect Individual Rights, Limited Government?
Source: Goldwater Institute
In “50 Bright Stars: An Assessment of Each State’s Constitutional Commitment to Limited Government” Goldwater Institute constitutional policy director Nick Dranias assessed and ranked the strength of limited government provisions of each state constitution as currently interpreted in recent court decisions and the quality and philosophy of each state’s judiciary.
He found that 48 states currently offer a better environment for securing limited government in state courts than do federal courts under the U.S. Constitution. Only Massachusetts and West Virginia fall below the federal baseline. Arizona ranked third in the country, close behind Minnesota, which tied Michigan and Ohio for first place.
Opening a Farmers Market on Federal Property: A Guide for Market Operators and Building Managers (PDF; 262 KB)
Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture and the General Services Administration
From press release:
The U. S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service today released “Opening a Farmers Market on Federal Property: A Guide for Market Operators and Building Managers.” The publication was jointly published by the Urban Development/Good Neighbor Program of General Services Administration, which administers most federal buildings.
This publication discusses the issues involved in locating a farmers market on federal property: security, insurance needs, parking, the use of utilities and amenities, and all the other things you need to consider. It tells who to contact for information, points to some helpful government Web sites and offices, and offers case studies of successful farmers markets on public property.
Federal properties may be good places for farmers markets, because they can boost traffic, since many federal buildings are prominently positioned in central business districts. Sites in buildings, on grounds or in parking lots are frequently available for minimal or no cost.
