Robert's US Government Info Blog July 2004 Archive

The U.S. Department of Labor has announced it will spend $600,000 for a study designed to assess the level of English proficiency that various employers require of their Hispanic workforce. ... Read More

The National Wildlife Federation (NWF) contends that twin bills currently before Congressional committees attempts to hunt down the Endangered Species Act by making the designation and protection of critical habitat ... Read More

Getting all excited about the presidential elections? Well, consider this: new research suggests that the U.S. may never have rebelled against Mother England in 1776 if King George III could ... Read More

You spent months planning the perfect vacation and the time has finally come. The bags are packed, the car is loaded, and the dog's in the kennel. At the last ... Read More

The Bush and Kerry campaigns raised an all-time high $414 million during the primaries, much of it through more than 1,000 corporate executives, lawyers, lobbyists and other wealthy special interests ... Read More

The Democratic National Convention Committee (DNCC) has released a preliminary list of primetime speakers for the 2004 Democratic National Convention, held July 26-29 in Boston. These speakers will all address ... Read More

Although the presidential nominations have largely been settled during the primary/caucus cycle in recent elections, the national party conventions continue to be an important part of the American political system. ... Read More

Incomes are lagging dramatically behind housing costs nationwide, while elementary school teachers, police officers, licensed practical nurses, retail salespersons and janitors in Southern Metropolitan areas have been particularly affected, according ... Read More

When an American small businesswoman received a shipment of Honduran lobster tails packed in clear plastic bags, she had no idea that this "heinous" violation of an obscure federal law ... Read More

The 9-11 Commission has issued its final report. The full 7.5 MB report in pdf format can be downloaded or viewed at http://www.9-11commission.gov/report/911Report.pdf . The report is also available in ... Read More

A new gun-control law taking effect this month in Brazil is aimed at lowering the nation's high rate of gun deaths by reducing the number of accessible firearms. Brazil has ... Read More

In a complaint filed with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), political interest group MoveOn.org claims that Fox News Channel's (FNC) use of the phrase "Fair and Balanced" represents false and ... Read More

Enrollment growth in America's community colleges outpaced all other major postsecondary institutions, according to a new issue brief released by the Center for Policy Analysis at the American Council on ... Read More

A simple revision to a government policy manual may at last make it possible for seniors and disabled Americans to have treatments for diseases related to obesity covered under Medicare. ... Read More

The American Bar Association has called on President Bush to urge Congress to pass legislation reauthorizing the 1994 federal assault weapons ban. Enacted in 1994, the law banned the sale ... Read More

No less than 15 federal agencies currently gather intelligence on potential terrorists and terrorist attacks. Problem is, says the 9-11 Commission, those 15 agencies are not so good at sharing ... Read More

Missing top secret data, along with a series of worker injuries, have resulted in the temporary suspension of virtually all activities at the Los Alamos National Laboratory. On July 7, ... Read More

A new report by Friends of the Earth shows how companies are hiding climate change-related risks from their investors in violation of Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) disclosure rules. The ... Read More

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has issued a Consumer Alert entitled, "Dubious ‘Gas-Saving’ Gadgets Can Drive You to Distraction," that informs consumers about both gas-saving devices with questionable benefit and ... Read More

As if there won't be enough press there already, bloggers -- writers who post their stories directly to Web sites -- will be admitted as credentialed reporters to both the ... Read More

Still licking their wound from their 2000 presidential election debacle, Florida's election officials should have all the kinks worked out for 2004. Wait, maybe not, reports the Miami Herald, where ... Read More

By a vote of 48 - 50, the U.S. Senate has refused to consider a proposed constitutional amendment that would have effectively banned same-sex marriage. The amendment, backed by President ... Read More

As the Iraq war -- a war we could win in 48 hours -- enters its sixteenth month, more than 800 American soldiers have died, the government of Iraq remains ... Read More

Since California enacted a law allowing patients to use marijuana for medical reasons cities across the state have been scrambling to restrict or even ban medical marijuana dispensaries, or "cannabis ... Read More

Yes, you paid for it. A taxpayer-funded government study has found that levels of dog and cat allergens are higher in homes where dogs and cats live inside. Bet you ... Read More

Warning that legalizing gay marriages could undermine the American family, President Bush urged the Senate to approve a proposed constitutional amendment that would ban same-sex marriages in all states. "A ... Read More

In the first election cycle after soft money contributions to national political parties were banned, convention city “host committees” are raising at least $103.5 million in unlimited private donations for ... Read More

On Dec. 3, 2003, President Bush signed the Healthy Forests Restoration Act (HRFA) of 2003, designed to reduce the risk of wild fires by thinning dense undergrowth and brush in ... Read More

Married persons are more likely to be supportive of President Bush and Republicans than singles, according to the National Annenberg Election survey. According to the survey, people who do not ... Read More

An all-time high 85 percent of U.S. adults age 25 and over had completed at least high school in 2003, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Also in 2003, 27 ... Read More

Total fundraising for the 2004 election continues to soar. As of May 30, the 2004 presidential candidates had receipts of $537 million, which is 62% more than the $331 million ... Read More

So, you're on a flight to Maui, and the guy seated next to you is wearing a suit and tie, spit-shined shoes, and has a military-grade haircut. Just another passenger, ... Read More

With the ever-increasing number of cancer survivors in the United States having reached 9.8 million, the need to provide survivors with services, support and a high quality of life has ... Read More

Saddam Hussein is on trial and facing prison in Iraq. Given his history of spending time in Iraqi jails, Saddam is right where he wants to be. Read more...

For the first time in the VA's history, veterans will be able to receive certified chiropractic care at 26 selected Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities beginning this fall, Secretary ... Read More