Today, March 4, 2015, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments to King v. Burwell. It’s a big deal because it could decide whether the Affordable Care Act (ACA), better known as ObamaCare, survives in its current format. More to the point, the decision will have implications regarding the balance of power between the three co-equal […]
Capital Investments Don’t Happen Overnight Mr. Wheeler
On February 26, 2015, the three Democratic commissioners at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) made a monumental decision to regulate the Internet under Title II of the Communications Act of 1934. In other words, they thought it was a good idea to apply an 80 year-old statute intended to regulate the monopoly Bell telephone system […]
The List Nobody Wants to Make: The 2015 GAO High Risk List
Anyone who has spent time on social media in recent years has inevitably noticed the proliferation of lists.
Home Mortgage Crisis 2.0: FHA Policies Portend Peril for Taxpayers
On February 11, 2015, Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Julian Castro testified before the House Financial Services Committee at an oversight hearing on the Federal Housing Administration.
Prime Cuts 2015: Bipartisan Proposals Included
After expanding control of the House of Representatives and taking over the Senate in the November 2014 elections, Republicans have a clear mandate to reduce spending.
When Will Congress Fix the 340B Drug Discount Program?
The 340B drug discount program to help uninsured, low-income individuals obtain prescription drugs has strayed from its mission.
Keeping the Skies Safe
As air travel becomes ubiquitous, the federal government must ensure that the crowded skies are both friendly and safe. In order to reassure the public that these objectives can be achieved, the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) air traffic control system must be modernized and air traffic controllers must be adequately trained.
Preempting State Law Is a Slippery Path
On February 2, 2015, Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Tom Wheeler released a statement supporting the petitions from Chattanooga, Tennessee and Wilson, North Carolina requesting federal preemption of state laws that restrict municipal broadband networks.
McAuliffe’s Shakedown in Charlottesville: Highway Robbery
“Road to Rio” was a popular 1947 installment of the “Road” series of comedies starring Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, and Dorothy Lamour. But in 2015, it is “Rio Road” that is not sitting well with audiences in Charlottesville, Virginia.