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What We’re Reading This Week, June 22-26

Here is a selection of articles the Federal Relations team is reading this week.

OPM, Oh, No! – In the wake of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) data breach and less than stellar performance (more disastrous and painful to watch) OPM performance at last week’s House Oversight and Government Reform hearing about the breach last week, OPM Director Katherine Archuleta still employed, despite speculation that the Administration might use the traditional time for dumping embarrassing and unpleasant news to announce her departure. Atchuleta is expected to testify in additional hearing this week (Senate Appropriations, House Oversight for a second time, and Senate Homeland Security).  Read more about the two attacks and fall out at the New York Times. 

US Capitol, May 2015
US Capitol, May 2015

King v. Burwell – The Supreme Court is wrapping up its session this week and one of the most highly anticipated decisions is King v. Burwell, a case that challenged the (highly popular) federal health care subsidy. The potential impacts could be far reaching and diversely impacting. The New York Times has an excellent walk-through of who would be impacted and how. 

UPDATE: The Court, with a 6-3 ruling, has upheld the subsidies, Moreover, the majority opinion was written by Chief Justice Roberts. The high court ruled that the health care law as written does allow residents of states using the federal insurance exchange to receive premium subsidies for their coverage – an outcome that saves subsidies for 6.4 million people.
The ruling is a huge win for the Administration and massive set back Congressional Republicans on their repeal ObamaCare agenda.  Read more at Politico. Read the opinion here. Read more about Obama’s AWESOME week in Roll Call. 

Pay for Performance – Financial support for college students has long been based on how well they perform in the classroom. Now, for public colleges and universities, it’s their turn to be graded. From Maine to Hawaii, some 36 states are allocating money for higher education based, in part, on performance measures designed to reward schools that raise graduation rates, award more high-tech degrees and better prepare students for the job market. Read more at CNBC. 

Flag – In a rough week for the nation, South Caroline, and noncommittal Republican presidential candidates (all for very different reasons), South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley with Senators Tim Scott and Lindsay Graham announced the removal of the Confederate flag from the state house grounds. Politico has more on how the decision was made and how the Republican party nationally is becoming more comfortable with making these easy decisions.

GI Bill – On June 22, 1944, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act, better known as the GI Bill. Fearing the consequences of millions of veterans returning from war to scarce employment and housing opportunities, Roosevelt passed the legislation to offer unemployment compensation, home and business loans and tuition support. The GI Bill radically changed access to higher education. Read more at Time. 

Trolling – With the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau reporting a spike in debt relief companies skirting the law online, the bureau is calling on Google, Yahoo, Facebook and Bing to stop scam artists from using their search engines to target struggling borrowers. Read more at the Washington Post. 

Puff, Puff, Not Gonna Pass – Most of the medical conditions that marijuana is prescribed to treat under state laws would never pass muster if pot were put through the rigor of FDA approval like a typical drug, according to a review in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Read more at the LA Times.

Career Path – On Capitol Hill, there are essentially two different tracks to take: policy or communications. Both jobs come with plusses and minuses, and need to work together, but what is the best direction to focus on for those looking to work their way to the top (of the proverbial) heap and become a Chief of Staff? Roll Call has some answers.