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lewisplan

Member since 3 years ago

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Ideas contributed by lewisplan

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  Between Federal Agencies »

  Improve interagency emergency planning

  Commonly, at federal emergency exercises, one finds that some agency representatives have mistaken perceptions of the emergency roles and procedures of other agencies. The national response plan is helpful in that regard, but provides inadequate detail. Potential disconnects should be addressed in the planning process, not during an emergency. There are two ways to address the problem: 1) Allow each federal agency ...more »

  Commonly, at federal emergency exercises, one finds that some agency representatives have mistaken perceptions of the emergency roles and procedures of other agencies. The national response plan is helpful in that regard, but provides inadequate detail. Potential disconnects should be addressed in the planning process, not during an emergency. There are two ways to address the problem:

  1) Allow each federal agency to review the emergency plans of other federal agencies. Then, in the plan revision process, agencies can see how their plans need revision in order to mesh with those of the other agencies.

  2) The federal agencies could establish a plan review team, with representatives from each agency, to review the plans for disconnects and set up meetings with other agency representatives to resolve the disconnects.

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  1 comment for Idea: Improve interagency emergency planning

  Submitted by lewisplan 3 years ago

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  Making Government Operations More Open »

  Revise OMB Circular A-123

  Under the Bush administration, OMB Circular A-123, formerly a "management controls" guidance for federal agencies, was revised, making it an "internal control" guidance. Significantly, the revised circular emphasized federal activities as insular and accountable to the President. Circular A-123 once was an important tool for allowing the President, Congress and the public to have oversight of government programs, expenditures ...more »

  Under the Bush administration, OMB Circular A-123, formerly a "management controls" guidance for federal agencies, was revised, making it an "internal control" guidance. Significantly, the revised circular emphasized federal activities as insular and accountable to the President.

  Circular A-123 once was an important tool for allowing the President, Congress and the public to have oversight of government programs, expenditures and compliance with federal laws. The Obama administration should return it to its original function and add new provisions. For example:

  a) Make training in management controls available to, and required o, every federal employee with a role in the reporting process.

  b) Introduce more uniformity in the questionnaires used by agencies for conducting assessments.

  c) Require that agency assessments address the handling of whistleblower disclosures, a key risk reduction tool

  d) Periodically have GAO check the accuracy of the reports and hold agency officials accountable for false reports

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  Submitted by lewisplan 3 years ago

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  Making Government Operations More Open »

  Provide free, online access to the Watergate Report and all other investigation reports

  Unlike reports for the 9/11 Commission, the Columbia Shuttle Accident Investigation and other taxpayer-funded investigations, the Senate Select Committee Report on the Watergate investigation is not available in its entirety, free and online. Even the commercially published version of the report is unavailable at many public libraries and bookstores (in part because it's out of print). This is a national tragedy because ...more »

  Unlike reports for the 9/11 Commission, the Columbia Shuttle Accident Investigation and other taxpayer-funded investigations, the Senate Select Committee Report on the Watergate investigation is not available in its entirety, free and online. Even the commercially published version of the report is unavailable at many public libraries and bookstores (in part because it's out of print). This is a national tragedy because the Watergate report covered much more than the break-in at the Watergate hotel. It also described the Nixon administration's efforts to politicize government and silence dissent. Many of the individuals involved in the activities investigated went on to powerful positions in society and government.

  The Watergate report is a poster child for free public access to government-produced reports, particularly older reports. With rare exceptions (classified information). all reports of investigations funded with taxpayer dollars should be available free of charge, online and in public libraries. Reports like the Watergate report, that relate to significant historical events should be scanned into electronic format and made available at no cost to citizens online.

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  Add your comment for Idea: Provide free, online access to the Watergate Report and all other investigation reports

  Submitted by lewisplan 3 years ago

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