Presidential Pardoning Power, and More from CRS
The President of the United States has broad and essentially unfettered authority to issue pardons for offenses against the United States, a new Congressional Research Service report on the subject explains.
“It also appears that a pardon may be revoked at any time prior to acceptance or delivery” of the warrant of pardon, according to the CRS assessment, which finds no flaw in the recent decision by President Bush “not to execute” a previously announced pardon in the case of real estate developer Isaac R. Toussie. See “An Overview of the Presidential Pardoning Power” (pdf), January 7, 2009.
Some other new or newly updated CRS reports that have not been made readily available to the public include the following (all pdf).
“Nuclear Weapons in U.S. National Security Policy: Past, Present, and Prospects,” updated December 30, 2008.
“Nuclear Arms Control: The Strategic Offensive Reductions Treaty,” updated December 30, 2008.
“Organizing the U.S. Government for National Security: Overview of the Interagency Reform Debates,” updated December 16, 2008.
“Iran’s Nuclear Program: Tehran’s Compliance with International Obligations,” December 4, 2008.
“U.S. Military Stop Loss Program,” January 8, 2009.
“Department of Defense Facilities Energy Conservation Policies and Spending,” December 31, 2008.
“Congressional Commissions: Overview, Structure, and Legislative Considerations,” December 19, 2008.
“Terrorism and Security Issues Facing the Water Infrastructure Sector,” updated November 17, 2008.
“Covert Action: Legislative Background and Possible Policy Questions,” updated December 1, 2008.
Datasets and variables that do not align with Administration priorities, or might reflect poorly on Administration policy impacts, seem to be especially in the cross-hairs.
One month of a government shutdown is in the books, but how many more months will (or can) it go? Congress is paralyzed, but there are a few spasms of activity around healthcare and the prospects of a continuing resolution to punt this fight out until January or later.
At a period where the federal government is undergoing significant changes in how it hires, buys, collects and organizes data, and delivers, deeper exploration of trust in these facets as worthwhile.
Moving postsecondary education data collection to the states is the best way to ensure that the U.S. Department of Education can meet its legislative mandates in an era of constrained federal resources.