http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d09868.pdf
Subtitled: Options Exist to Enhance Transportation Planning Capacity and Federal Oversight. Describes the characteristics and responsibilities of MPOs, the challenges they face in carrying out their transportation responsibilities and how the federal government provides oversight for MPOs and whether this improves transportation planning. From the Government Accountability Office
http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/104xx/doc10444/07-14-UMRA.pdf
Defines and describes intergovernmental mandates or so-called unfunded mandates, what the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act requires, the number of unfunded mandates considered or enacted by Congress since the passage of UMRA, and kinds of federally imposed costs that are not considered mandates. From the Congressional Budget Office.
http://epa.gov/cleanenergy/documents/epa_lbe.pdf
Subtitled: Strategies, Resources, and Action Steps for State Programs. Provides information to help state governments as they develop program to achieve their clean energy goals for buildings, facilities, operations, and vehicle fleets. From the Environmental Protection Agency.
http://laws.findlaw.com/us/000/08-322
8-1 ruling by the Supreme Court that an Austin, Texas municipal utility district could apply to opt out of the provisions of the Voting Rights Act. The court declined to use the case to declare unconstitutional the provisions that require 16 mostly southern states to gain Justice Department approval to prevent discriminatory voting practices. From Findlaw.com
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmselect/cmcomloc/33/33i.pdf
Looks at the current role of local government and the role of central government and advocates further cultural change within central government to turn toward a more decentralized balance of power structure. Also discusses the pressing need for reform of local government financial arrangements. From the House of Commons Communities and Local Government Committee.
Creates a Federal Leadership Committee for the Chesapeake Bay to oversee the development and coordination of programs to protect and restore the Chesapeake Bay, designates the Environmental Protection Agency as the lead agency for the effort, and calls for a new approach to restore water quality, revise agricultural policies and practices, reduce water pollution from federal sources, protect the Bay from effects of climate change, and other goals. From the White House.
http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/100xx/doc10058/03-31-UMRA.pdf
The report covers public laws enacted and legislation considered by Congress in 2008 that would impose federal mandates on state, local, or tribal governments or on the private sector. From the Congressional Budget Office.
http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d09223.pdf
Concludes that moving the Forest Service from the Department of Agriculture to the Department of the Interior could improve federal land management but would produce few efficiencies and could diminish the Forest Service role in state and private land management. From the Government Accountability Office.
http://assets.opencrs.com/rpts/R40112_20090105.pdf
Examines the arguments presented by the National Conference of State Legislatures and the National Governors Association to include state fiscal assistance in a federal economic recovery plan. From the Congressional Research Service, posted by OpenCRS.org.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/inforeg/costs_benefits/2008_draft_cb_report.pdf
Latest annual report (for 2008) on the estimated costs and benefits of federal regulations. From the Office of Management and Budget.
http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d081120.pdf
Develops four major insights for disaster recovery for states based on experiences in Hurricanes Andrew, Rita and Katrina, the Loma Prieta, Kobe, and Northridge earthquakes, and the Grand Forks/Red Rivers floods. From the Government Accountability Office.
