How the Feds Blind Us To Our Malaise

Though we seldom think of them this way, America's statistical agencies are the very eyes and ears of our democracy. When they are functioning properly, they provide essential information to help the public and its elected representatives see what is going right in our country-and what is going wrong. Such information is crucial for forming a more perfect union.

Without timely and accurate information on our domestic problems, our government cannot hope to address these swiftly, much less effectively. Whether you are a progressive or a conservative, in favor of more government or less of it, you need good data to inform your own efforts to make our country better.

America was the first government in the modern era to recognize the importance of evidence-based public policy. Our Constitution mandated a decennial census-a truly revolutionary notion back in the late eighteenth century. And for most of our history, the U.S. statistical system has been well ahead of the curve, if not a virtual wonder of the world.

No longer. Today our government statistical services are failing at some vital missions-and they have generally been falling away from the global forefront for at least a generation. In key fields we see not only stagnation, but even retrogression. The painful truth is that our statistical services are currently incapable of providing some of the basic facts and figures we need for confronting our most pressing domestic social troubles.

More from HERE.

Status of Government Websites During Shutdown (and some options)

With the federal government now shut down, many government services and agencies are closed, suspended or otherwise curtailed. The following list describes the status of select government web resources and some possible alternatives.
Note: The Internet Archive grabbed copies of a number of federal agency websites just before they were taken offline due to the lapse in appropriations. You can access the archives through the links on this blog entry.

More info HERE.

Public Information about Government Data Will Improve With New Obama Policy

From APDU:

The Obama Administration released an Executive Order and a Policy Directive that move the federal government forward in a significant direction -- officially requiring that, going forward, data generated by the government be made available in open, machine-readable formats (with appropriate protections). Most notably, it requires that agencies create and maintain an “enterprise data inventory, if it does not already exist, that accounts for datasets used in the agency's information systems" -- with the ultimate goal of including all agency datasets, and with indications whether the agency has determined that the individual datasets may be made publicly available and whether these are currently available to the public. Here's what you need to know:
• The Executive Order declares that information is a valuable resource and strategic asset for the nation.
• Newly generated government data will be required to be made available in open, machine-readable format by default -- enhancing their accessibility and usefulness, and ensuring privacy and security.
• These executive actions will allow entrepreneurs and companies to take advantage of this information -- fueling economic growth in communities across the Nation.

Watch a short video and find out more about the announcement HERE. Also, read more HERE.

In conjunction with those steps to unleash troves of useful data from the vaults of government, the interagency US Global Change Research Program (USGCRP) launched a new online tool that promises to accelerate research relating to climate change and human health—the Metadata Access Tool for Climate and Health, or “MATCH.” MATCH is a tool, driven by open data, which could open the door for new scientific insights in the public health and climate science communities. It is a publicly accessible digital platform for searching and integrating metadata—standardized contextual information—extracted from more than 9,000 health, environment, and climate-science datasets held by six Federal agencies. Read more HERE.

Federal Agencies with Statistical Programs

The Federal Committee on Statistical Methodology (FCSM) is an interagency committee dedicated to improving the quality of Federal statistics. The first meeting of the FCSM was held in the summer of 1975. The letter of invitation from Maria E. Gonzalez, founder of the FCSM, said that "The FCSM will focus on recommending standards for statistical methodology to be followed by Federal statistical agencies. The Committee shall investigate problems which affect the quality of Federal Statistical data, as well as make suggestions for improving statistical methodology in Federal agencies." The Office of Management and Budget invites individual statisticians, economists or managers working in the Executive Branch to participate as members of the FCSM based on their particular experience.

Here is a list of federal agencies with statistical programs.

Federal, State & Local Governments - A Closer Look

A part of the IRS, FSLG is responsible for ensuring federal tax compliance by federal, quasi-governmental and state agencies; city, county, and other units of local government; and governmental entities in American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The office coordinates activities with other IRS offices such as Customer Account Services, Counsel, Government Liaison & Disclosure, Employee Plans and Excise Tax. Additionally, Federal, State and Local Governments works with the Taxpayer Advocate Service to resolve tax problems.

FSLG delivers various services through partnership with government associations, practitioner associations, IRS Counsel, and other IRS offices. Individualized service is available to you on a voluntary basis. Specially trained IRS staff can address tax topics - unique to government entities - that may relate to, for example, governments as employers, and issues of payments to outside contractors.

To read the January 2013 edition of the FSLG Newsletter, please visit the Current Edition in the Government Entities section of the IRS.gov website.

(Lots of) Transportation Statistics

State Transportation Statistics 2011

The Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), a part of DOT’s Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA), presents State Transportation Statistics 2011, a statistical profile of transportation in the 50 states and the District of Columbia. This is the ninth annual edition of the State Transportation Statistics, and a companion document to the National Transportation Statistics (NTS), which is updated quarterly on the BTS website.
Like the previous editions, this document presents transportation information from RITA/BTS, other federal government agencies, and other national sources. A picture of the states’ transportation infrastructure, freight movement and passenger travel, system safety, vehicles, transportation related economy and finance, energy usage and the environment is presented in tables covering the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Tables have been updated with the most recently available data.

Also:
Government Transportation Financial Statistics 2012

Top 10 datasets on data.gov

With agencies continually opening datasets and releasing APIs to app developers, Data.gov tracks its datasets according to a variety of criteria, from most accessed and highest rated, to oldest and newest. Here are the top 10 of the nearly 1,300 datasets currently listed under the “Most Relevant” category.
GCN (http://s.tt/1lEn3)

More HERE.

State and Local Governments Employ 16.4 Million Full-Time Equivalent Employees in 2011

In March 2011, there were 16.4 million full-time equivalent employees working in state and local governments in the U.S., down 1.4 percent from 2010. According to estimates released by the U.S. Census Bureau, the majority of these employees (8.9 million) worked in education, followed by those working in hospitals (964,381), police protection (923,951) and corrections (717,940).

These estimates come from the 2011 Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. The survey shows totals for state and local government full-time and part-time employment and details employment by government function at the national and state level. To arrive at the full-time equivalent employee calculation, the number of full-time employees is added to the number of hours worked by part-time employees divided by the standard number of hours for a full-time employee.

How to Find Out If a Social Media Account is from the Government

Every day, the federalgovernment uses social media services like Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube to communicate with you and provide easy access to government benefits and services.

But unlike most government websites, which are hosted on a .mil or a .gov domain, social media sites are hosted on commercial domains. Without the .gov or the .mil, it can be difficult to determine which social media accounts are official government sources of information and which are impersonators.

To help solve that problem, the federal government recently launched a social media registry in English and Spanish, where you can confirm the validity of a variety of government social media accounts.

Report on the Status of U.S. Fisheries

NOAA Fisheries releases the 15th Annual Report to Congress on the Status of the Nation’s Fisheries. This report documents our national journey toward ending overfishing and rebuilding the nation’s fisheries.

Since 1997, this annual report to Congress identifies the status of our managed stocks and complexes. It provides a 'snap-shot' in time of where our nation’s fisheries were at the end of 2011 in relation to their thresholds of overfishing and overfished. This report does not capture the dynamic nature of sustainability and the many factors that may influence a fishery and require harvests to be adjusted.

Driving and Road Trip Resources

Whether you're driving locally or taking a road trip, find helpful resources on USA.gov's Road and Train Travel page, including:

Gas Mileage Tips -- Find out how driving efficiently, keeping your car in good condition, and combining trips can help you save money.
Traffic and Road Closures -- Get resources to keep you informed about road and traffic conditions.
Scenic Byways -- Find scenic drives that you might enjoy while traveling on the road.



Wherever you're driving, make safety a top priority and keep in mind that most states have banned texting while driving. Learn more about distracted driving.

Learn online about health & wellness from the National Library of Medicine

The National Library of Medicine can help you learn about the symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment for a variety of diseases and conditions. From Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms to Varicose Veins, and many topics in between.

Created for patients, you can learn about the symptoms, diagnosis and treatment for a variety of diseases and conditions. Also learn about surgeries, prevention and wellness.
Each tutorial includes animated graphics, audio, and easy-to-read language

Government Employment & Payroll

Census Bureau collects federal, state and local government payroll data. It is NOT considered confidential under Title 13. The most recent data on employment and payroll is for 2009.

2011 Salary Tables and Related Information

View the latest federal pay tables from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management.

See also Fact Sheets on Salaries and Wages.

Government Challenges, Contests, and Prizes

Visit Challenge.gov to participate in government contests and challenges for the chance to win a variety of prizes (monetary or non-monetary).
You may be challenged to solve a problem, make a suggestion, shoot and upload a video, create a logo, build an online game, invent something, and much more. A new challenge from Kids.gov, for example, calls for posters that answer the question, "How do I become President?" Find more details about this and other challenges.
Even if you don't have a solution for a specific challenge, you can share challenges with friends or sign up to show support for a challenge.

The New USA.gov

In honor of its 10th anniversary, announcing the new and improved USA.gov and GobiernoUSA.gov.
The new look is based on best practices, usability testing, and suggestions received through the online public dialog, "Your Voice Matters."
Among the new features are:
• Look and Feel: a new, clean look that reduces the feeling of clutter and creates an open, focused interface.
• Enhanced Search: With a new search that is up to 9 times faster and more accurate, search is featured prominently on the pages and the 5 most popular search terms are now displayed daily.
• Government Apps Gallery: Some of the most innovative apps and mobile-friendly websites from across the federal government are showcased.
• Popular Content in English and Spanish: All of the most popular content like Online Services, Contact Your Government, and the A-Z index of government agencies have been kept. Now accessible through mega-dropdown menus that appear on every page, this content is easier to find through search engines or entry points other than the homepage.
This new design should make it easier for you to access the government information and services you need.
Have a safe and fun 4th of July weekend!

FY2011 Statistical Agency Budget Proposals

Today, the Obama Administration releases its proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2011. Overall, statistical agencies fared well in this time of budget tightening. A summary by agency is available in the budget’s Strengthening Federal Statistics chapter.

Below are proposed budget figures for statistical agencies.

• Census Bureau – The proposed Census Bureau budget is $1.3 billion, down from $7.4 billion appropriated for FY2010. Highlights are the production of 2010 Census data products and preparation for the 2012 Economic Census. In addition, funds are requested to increase the ACS sample size to 2.5 percent of households annually, create supplementary measures of poverty, and expand capability to analyze administrative records.
• Bureau of Labor Statistics – the proposed BLS budget is $646 million, up from $611 million appropriated in FY2010.
• Bureau of Economic Analysis – the proposed BEA budget is $109 million, up from $94 million.
• National Center for Health Statistics – the proposed NCHS budget is $162 million, up from $139 million.
• Energy Information Administration – the proposed EIA budget is $129 million, up from $111 million.
• Economic Research Service – the proposed ERS budget is $87 million, up from $82 million.
• Policy Development and Research, HUD -- HUD’s request for basic data infrastructure is $55 million, $7 million more than the fiscal year 2010 appropriated level of $48 million. (Technically, HUD is not a principal federal statistical agency.)
• Bureau of Transportation Statistics – the proposed BTS budget is $30 million, up from $28 million.
• Science Resources Statistics Division, NSF – the proposed SRS budget is $37 million, up from $35 million.
• Statistics of Income, IRS – the proposed SOI budget is $44 million, up from $43 million.
• National Agricultural Statistics Service – the proposed NASS budget is $165 million, up from $162 million.

Net Cetera: Chatting with Kids About Being Online

The Federal Trade Commission is offering a FREE publication, "Net Cetera," to help parents talk to their kids about safely navigating the online world. Available in English and Spanish. Visit USA.gov to request a copy.

Federal Domestic Spending Increases 9.3 Percent in FY ’08

The federal government obligated nearly $2.79 trillion in domestic spending for fiscal year 2008, up 9.3 percent from 2007, according to a report released by the U.S. Census Bureau. That’s equivalent to a total of $9,184 per person living in the United States. Entitlement programs Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security comprised 48 percent of all federal spending, accounting for $1.35 trillion. Of that amount, $659 billion went to Social Security. The one-year increase in spending for these three programs was approximately $359 for every person in the United States.

Economics and Statistics Administration

The Economics and Statistics Administration (ESA) is the bureau within the U.S. Department of Commerce where economic and social changes are chronicled, understood, and explained.

ESA provides broad and targeted economic data, analyses and forecasts for use by Government agencies, businesses and others, as well as develops domestic and international economic policy.

Many important political and business decisions are based upon the economic and demographic information produced by ESA and its components: the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), U.S. Census Bureau, and STAT-USA.