Tag: technology
Stevenson’s army, September 7
– 538 notes how many election deniers are running for office.
– AP finds policy, other officials as members of Oath Keepers.
– WaPo says Mar-a-Lago documents included information on foreign nuclear capabilities and highly limited access material.
– Putin has a new doctrine about a Russian world. [DPS note: is isn’t new]
– Apple can’t shift production of iphone out of China
– House GOP plans rerun of 1994 tactic
– Despite increase in budget for House pay, Legistorm reports:
85% of representatives haven’t touched their MRA increase, LegiStorm data shows
Posted by Keturah Hetrick on Sept. 6, 2022
Months after an unprecedented increase to the Members’ Representational Allowance, 85% of representatives haven’t used even a dollar of those additional funds, according to a LegiStorm analysis.
In March, Congress authorized a 21 percent increase to the House’s office budgets for the 2022 fiscal year. That increase – the highest since the MRA’s creation in 1996 – gave the average office an extra $317,241 to spend in 2022 year, equivalent to $79,310 per quarter.
For most of Congress, the old funds would have been enough: 85% of representatives disclosed Q1 and Q2 spending at rates that would have been sustainable without any MRA increase.
The MRA increase was intended to bolster staffers salaries in order to attract and retain talent. The average personal office spent just 36.34% of its budget in the first six months of the year, leaving the average office more than $91,000 shy of even touching the increase.
Democrats on average have spent 1.72% more of their office budgets than Republicans, a difference of about $32,500 per office.
The House’s minimum salary of $45,000 per year went into effect on Sept. 1. The extent of staffer pay increases from the new salary floor won’t be clear until the House releases its Q3 expense data in late November.
As Politico reported this morning, the House Select Committee on Modernization of Congress and the House Administration Committee plan to announce a resolution today that includes a reevaluation about how the MRA is calculated.
My SAIS colleague Charlie Stevenson distributes this almost daily news digest of foreign/defense/national security policy to “Stevenson’s army” via Googlegroups. I republish here. To get Stevenson’s army by email, send a blank email (no subject or text in the body) to stevensons-army+subscribe@googlegroups.com. You’ll get an email confirming your join request. Click “Join This Group” and follow the instructions to join. Once you have joined, you can adjust your email delivery preferences (if you want every email or a digest of the emails).
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Stevenson’s army, September 6
– WOTR has major joint statement by several former SecDefs and CJCSs Background in WaPo.
– WaPo has Tom Ricks op-ed, less worried about civil war.
– Sebastian Mallaby is hopeful about Liz Truss.
– Politco discusses the congressional agenda this month.
– NYT explains where CHIPS money is going.
My SAIS colleague Charlie Stevenson distributes this almost daily news digest of foreign/defense/national security policy to “Stevenson’s army” via Googlegroups. I republish here. To get Stevenson’s army by email, send a blank email (no subject or text in the body) to stevensons-army+subscribe@googlegroups.com. You’ll get an email confirming your join request. Click “Join This Group” and follow the instructions to join. Once you have joined, you can adjust your email delivery preferences (if you want every email or a digest of the emails).
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Stevenson’s army, August 10
– NYT has some details of new Iran nuclear deal.-
– NYT tells how Russia seized control of internet in captured areas of Ukraine.
– Politico sees technology concerns in some weapons Ukraine wants.
– CSIS war game suggests Taiwan could withstand Chinese attack, at heavy cost.
– WaPo says Ukraine special forces launched Crimea attack.
– Fred Kaplan analyzes Milley disclosures about Trump.
– Politico explains key role of presidential staff secretary.
– Here’s second part of WOTR piece on army doctrine.
– Analysts see surge in violent messages after FBI search warrant.
My SAIS colleague Charlie Stevenson distributes this almost daily news digest of foreign/defense/national security policy to “Stevenson’s army” via Googlegroups. I republish here. To get Stevenson’s army by email, send a blank email (no subject or text in the body) to stevensons-army+subscribe@googlegroups.com. You’ll get an email confirming your join request. Click “Join This Group” and follow the instructions to join. Once you have joined, you can adjust your email delivery preferences (if you want every email or a digest of the emails).
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Stevenson’s army, December 9
Charlie, preoccupied with orals the last few days, sent this “catchup” last night:
I’ve been busy with orals the past 3 days. Here’s what I think is happening.
– The armed services committee leaders agreed on a compromise NDAA without ever giving the Senate a chance to vote on amendments or the bill. The House substittuted the NDAA package on a bill originally intended to approve a memorial for a Florida terrorist attack. The important statement of managers is here. A summary here. BTW, included in the NDAA package is the first State Dept authorization bill in 20 years. Fred Kaplan wonders if members even looked at the bill.
This morning he added:
– US will send small arms and ammo to Ukraine.
– WSJ says US will tighten sanctions on Iran.
– Harvard report says China will soon lead US in tech.
– NYT reports problems boosting US R&D.
– Big national and defense strategy documents coming early next year.
My SAIS colleague Charlie Stevenson distributes this almost daily news digest of foreign/defense/national security policy to “Stevenson’s army” via Googlegroups. I plan to republish here. To get Stevenson’s army by email, send a blank email (no subject or text in the body) to stevensons-army+subscribe@googlegroups.com. You’ll get an email confirming your join request. Click “Join This Group” and follow the instructions to join. Once you have joined, you can adjust your email delivery preferences (if you want every email or a digest of the emails).
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Stevenson’s army, November 12
-FP reports on Taiwan’s latest military assessment, and links to the document.
– AP reports on CCP’s history resolution elevating Xi. Here’s the text.
-WSJ says US & Chinese semiconductor firms are collaborating.
– FP says China hawks are running for office.
– Jake Sullivan says US bureaucracy is too slow.
– Brookings report warns of revolving door with tech industry.
– Bloomberg reports on US CODEL to Taiwan.
My SAIS colleague Charlie Stevenson distributes this almost daily news digest of foreign/defense/national security policy to “Stevenson’s army” via Googlegroups. I plan to republish here. To get Stevenson’s army by email, send a blank email (no subject or text in the body) to stevensons-army+subscribe@googlegroups.com. You’ll get an email confirming your join request. Click “Join This Group” and follow the instructions to join. Once you have joined, you can adjust your email delivery preferences (if you want every email or a digest of the emails).
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Stevenson’s army, October 12
– Hill staffers becoming tech lobbyists.
-DOD scientists sees more areas to research.
– Writer sees Belarus flashpoint.
And here’s how Punchbowl News explains the clever way the House is passing the debt limit change.
The House leadership doesn’t anticipate having any trouble passing a debt-limit increase. Members return this afternoon for a quick session to take up the debt-limit boost and do some other business, and then the chamber isn’t back for another vote until Oct. 19.
Here’s the kicker: The House won’t even vote directly on lifting the debt limit. The debt limit will be “deemed” lifted as part of a rule that governs debate for the PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act, the Protect Older Job Applicants Act and the Family Violence Prevention and Services Improvement Act.
In other words, one vote will sketch out the debate on three minor bills — and it will also lift the debt limit by $480 billion. It’s an attempt at being a bit cute by House Democrats, but it’s still a debt-limit vote.
My SAIS colleague Charlie Stevenson distributes this almost daily news digest of foreign/defense/national security policy to “Stevenson’s army” via Googlegroups. I plan to republish here. To get Stevenson’s army by email, send a blank email (no subject or text in the body) to stevensons-army+subscribe@googlegroups.com. You’ll get an email confirming your join request. Click “Join This Group” and follow the instructions to join. Once you have joined, you can adjust your email delivery preferences (if you want every email or a digest of the emails).
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