Here’s a selection of article the Federal Relations team is reading this week.
Takes a Village – Because politics makes strange bedfellows, David Brock, the conservative reporter who pushed Paula Jones into the media spot light, is now integral to Hillary’s run as part of Clinton’s shadow campaign, Having seen the light and switching teams to become a Dem, Brock now guides a network of pro-Clinton ‘super PACs,’ mega-donors and opposition researchers via Media Matters, his decade-old nonprofit group that meticulously monitors and counters conservative media. Read more at the LA Times.
21 Million – OPM has revised the number of individuals who had their information stolen during the second hack. The number first reported was 4.5 million, which is now being revealed to be 21 million. Those who had their information stolen are not limited to applicants for federal positions, but to spouses and family members. The hack apparently collected information going back for 15 years. Read more at USA Today.
All About the $$$ – Republicans are using the federal appropriations process to undermine Obama’s legislative and policy priorities. Not a new idea or method, but the New York Times has a story about how it’s fairing this year.
Not Really – In the hotly contested patent reform bills going around Capitol Hill, a recent essay on the Senate’s PATENT Act reveals that it won’t actually help the IP offices at Iowa or Iowa State even though Senator Grassley’s (R-IA) wrote the bill. Read more at IP Watchdog.
GO BOOM!!! – With the federal fiscal agreement due in short order (Sept 30), Republicans and Democrats are locked in a battle of wills to influence the final outcome of the appropriations process and, hopefully, avoid a continuing resolution or another shutdown. Read more at The Hill.
Doh! – Donald Trump has been asked to tone it down by the GOP for the good of the GOP. In true Trump style, Donald doubled down on recent comments. Read more in the Washington Post. Additionally, Trump says that the RNC party chair called to congratulate him. Read more in the New York Times.