Capitol Confidential

Articles by Capitol Confidential

Gabe Sherman's Shrivel: Author of 'The Loudest Voice' Struck Dumb

Remember Gabriel Sherman’s book, The Loudest Voice in the Room: How the Brilliant, Bombastic Roger Ailes Built Fox News–and Divided a Country? Perhaps neither the author nor the title rings a bell. If so, that’s not a surprise, because Sherman’s

Gabe Sherman's Shrivel: Author of 'The Loudest Voice' Struck Dumb

Gabriel Sherman Travels to London to Collude with Anti-Ailes Forces?

Breitbart News has been covering the Gabriel Sherman vs. Roger Ailes story closely, because, well, it’s important. How so? Three reasons, two of which Breitbart News has previously covered, along with a new angle that hasn’t been examined yet. First,

Gabriel Sherman Travels to London to Collude with Anti-Ailes Forces?

GSA reconsidering controversial green building program

After months of ongoing scrutiny, the General Services Administration (GSA) is finally showing signs of willingness to hear the arguments against its current system of green building certification. “GSA published a notice in the Federal Register seeking public comments for

GSA reconsidering controversial green building program

Postal Service Attorney: Our Workers Above Local Law

An attorney for the U.S. Postal Service has argued that her cash-strapped agency’s employees do not have to pay for speeding tickets.  East Cleveland, Ohio, is attempting to collect nearly $700 in traffic violations committed by local USPS trucks, but

Postal Service Attorney: Our Workers Above Local Law

DC Tops List of Costly, Subsidized 'Green' Buildings

Given the questions regarding the waste borne of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards for green building certification, it’s almost fitting that Washington D.C has again topped the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) list with the highest

DC Tops List of Costly, Subsidized 'Green' Buildings

Watchdog Files FOIA Request Over Green Building Program Waste

Though the General Services Administration’s (GSA) sole adherence to one measure of green building certification has already faced a flurry of skepticism for the benefits and logic behind it, a government watchdog group is now closing in on the transparency

Watchdog Files FOIA Request Over Green Building Program Waste

Obama to Appoint Google Bigwig to National Science Board

President Obama plans to appoint Google’s Chief Internet Evangelist to the National Science Board, the news organization Politico reported Wednesday afternoon. The elevation of Vint Cerf, who has worked at the Internet behemoth since 2005, was announced Wednesday.  His appointment

Obama to Appoint Google Bigwig to National Science Board

Report: High Cigarette Taxes Fuel Smuggling

The Mackinac Center for Public Policy has released a new report indicating that high cigarette taxes fuel smuggling from lower-tax jurisdictions, which benefit from out-of-state buyers looking to save money on smokes. According to the report, over 60 percent of

Report: High Cigarette Taxes Fuel Smuggling

After Losing Contract, IL Lottery Chief Turns Against Contracting

With a number of ex-governors in prison, it’s difficult for a relatively low-level Illinois public official’s misbehavior to stand out. But the Illinois state lottery director Mike Jones is making a go of it. According to local sources, after a

After Losing Contract, IL Lottery Chief Turns Against Contracting

Google Raises Fresh Privacy Concerns with Smartphone Move

Google, Inc. is moving into cell phone production–a potential concern for consumers bothered by the Internet behemoth’s treatment of user data, including an instance in which Google failed to disclose that it did not abide by its privacy policy with

Google Raises Fresh Privacy Concerns with Smartphone Move

Kentucky tax reform proposal a mixed bag

A panel created by Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear to assess possible changes to the commonwealth’s tax system is proposing an array of tax reforms, some of which will be greeted and others loathed by economic conservatives. According to the AP,

Kentucky tax reform proposal a mixed bag

EXCLUSIVE — Soros-Backed Attack Dog Expands War on Fox

“Gabe Sherman is Jayson Blair on steroids.”  That’s one tough assessment of Gabriel Sherman, the over-eager reporter and from-a-great-distance biographer of Roger Ailes.  Who said it?  A well-placed source close to Fox News. And the source makes a very strong

EXCLUSIVE — Soros-Backed Attack Dog Expands War on Fox

No, Karl Rove Was Not 'Benched' from Fox News

The accuracy of a claim that had generated significant chatter in liberal circles regarding Fox News boss Roger Ailes having “benched” Karl Rove as a contributor in the aftermath of the presidential election is being called into question, as Rove

No, Karl Rove Was Not 'Benched' from Fox News

Track Wasteful Spending? There's an App for That

A new iPhone app released Thursday by fiscal conservative group Public Notice aims to put wasteful spending in the spotlight, just as debate surrounding the fiscal cliff heats up. According to a release, the app “geographically targets users’ newsfeeds to

Track Wasteful Spending? There's an App for That

Radical Groups Threaten US Timber Industry

A practiced tactic of the left is for multiple organizations of varying degrees of radicalism to coordinate their attacks on a single industry or company, often to the benefit of one player in the industry and to detriment of American

Radical Groups Threaten US Timber Industry

Google Set to Reap Benefit of Strong Obama Backing?

According to a report by the Washington Examiner, President Obama may be set to pay back one of his biggest sources of campaign donations by appointing the Chairman of the company to a top Cabinet position. Obama is said to

Google Set to Reap Benefit of Strong Obama Backing?

Reid Attempts Inside Straight for Casinos on On-line Poker

Last December, the DOJ overturned a forty year old regulation prohibiting online wagering, noting that a 1961 rule governing sports betting could not be considered to cover modern games of online Texas Hold ’em.  It was a moderate success for

Reid Attempts Inside Straight for Casinos on On-line Poker

Katy Perry Teams Up With Anti-Taxers to Fight Big Government

A coalition of 125 celebrity musicians, including pop singer Katy Perry, have joined forces with anti-tax advocates including Grover Norquist and the National Taxpayers Union (NTU) to oppose an intellectual property “reform” bill that critics charge expands government to the

Katy Perry Teams Up With Anti-Taxers to Fight Big Government

USA Today: Green Building Program a Burden on Taxpayers

A USA Today examination of the popular Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program revealed the system’s vaulted green standards have negligible impact on a building’s environmental footprint while often making staggering tax breaks available to developers. In total, 13

USA Today: Green Building Program a Burden on Taxpayers

Google Goes to Bat for Net Neutrality, Again

Google, along with other tech industry supporters of Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulations mandating net neutrality, is urging a federal court to side with the FCC in a suit brought by Internet service providers Verizon and MetroPCS. That suit, brought

Google Goes to Bat for Net Neutrality, Again

WHO Boots Media from Controversial Tobacco Meeting

The World Health Organization (WHO) has shut the media out of a key meeting focused on global tobacco policies, according to information published in yesterday’s Chattanooga Free-Press.  According to Drew Johnson, author of an op-ed covering the matter, leaders of a

WHO Boots Media from Controversial Tobacco Meeting

Illinois County's Cigarette Tax Hike Unlikely to Deliver

On Friday, the Cook County, Illinois, County Board voted to increase taxes on cigarettes by $1 per pack, bringing the full amount of taxes paid on a pack of cigarettes legally purchased in Chicago to $6.67. That is just 19

Illinois County's Cigarette Tax Hike Unlikely to Deliver

IRS and Treasury Investigate Obama's SolarCity

News that SolarCity, another recipient of millions in government largess from the Obama Administration, would be issuing an IPO forced the disclosure that the IRS and the Treasury Department were now investigating the company, and others, for potential abuse of

IRS and Treasury Investigate Obama's SolarCity

Global Tobacco Tax Could Be in the Cards This Week

Could a global tobacco tax be on the cards if tobacco tax proponents get their way at a key international organization’s meeting this week?  Anti-tax advocates fear that the answer to that question may be “yes” as a conference of

Global Tobacco Tax Could Be in the Cards This Week

IL County Board Gives Initial Approval to Tax Hike

On Friday, the Cook County, Illinois, County Board gave its initial approval to at least one big tax hike included in the annual budget proposed by County Board President Toni Preckwinkle. Last year, Preckwinkle pushed for tobacco tax increases in order to

IL County Board Gives Initial Approval to Tax Hike

Explosive CDC Omission: Norovirus Spread Through Reusable Grocery Bags

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently expanded its website to include a norovirus toolkit advising the ways in which one might contract the killer virus.   Among the public health agency’s prescribed practices to stop the spread of the virus:

Explosive CDC Omission: Norovirus Spread Through Reusable Grocery Bags

Opposition Builds to UN-WHO Global Tobacco Tax Plan

With the World Health Organization (WHO) reportedly considering a push for a global tobacco tax at a major meeting taking place next month, fresh opposition to the plan is emerging from new quarters: Pakistan. Pakistan’s Daily Times notes that concern

Opposition Builds to UN-WHO Global Tobacco Tax Plan

Dem Senate Candidate: Obama 'Wrong on Energy'

President Obama is taking heat from another prominent fellow Democrat over his energy policies.  On Thursday, North Dakota Senate candidate Democrat Heidi Heitkamp said at a North Dakota Chamber of Commerce forum that she would tell the President, “You’re wrong

Dem Senate Candidate: Obama 'Wrong on Energy'

Google Conceding Unlawful Behavior in European Probe?

The Financial Times reports that online behemoth Google has offered a pre-emptive deal to settle anticipated European Union claims of unlawful behavior damaging to competition in the online search and services market: “Google has made a bid to avoid an antitrust war with

Google Conceding Unlawful Behavior in European Probe?

Chinese Renewable Bag Manufacturer Pushes US Plastic Bag Bans

A Chinese manufacturer of reusable bags has been quietly circulating among environmentalists a sensational infographic smearing plastic bags as an unparalleled eco-burden, lobbying for the ban of American-made single-use sacks. Factory Direct Promos, a Guangdong Province-based outfit, has produced an

Chinese Renewable Bag Manufacturer Pushes US Plastic Bag Bans

Facebook Raises Privacy Concerns: Partnered Firm Can Track User Purchases

Online giant Facebook is raising fresh privacy worries over its ad tracking methods following news that the social networking company is now working with Datalogix, a firm capable of monitoring whether individuals shown online ads ultimately purchase advertised products. The Financial

Facebook Raises Privacy Concerns: Partnered Firm Can Track User Purchases

Obama Silent as Europe Readies TAX ON U.S. DOMESTIC FLIGHTS

President Obama has been talking a lot recently. The latest revelation – he thinks he’s “eye candy.” While he’s lost in self-discovery on “The View” and “Late Night with David Letterman,” the U.S. Senate managed to muster enough votes to

Obama Silent as Europe Readies TAX ON U.S. DOMESTIC FLIGHTS

Rahm Considers Tobacco Tax Hike Despite Costs to Poor

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel may be looking to further hike Chicago tobacco taxes in a stealthy forthcoming budget move, reports UPI: A spokeswoman for Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel declined to discuss hikes to the city’s cigarette and live entertainment taxes sources said

Rahm Considers Tobacco Tax Hike Despite Costs to Poor