Subject: Weekly Reader: Making sure weapons work
From: "Andre, Project On Government Oversight" <[email-masked]>
To: [email-masked]
Date: Sat, 30 Aug 2014 07:00:34 -0500

http://getinvolved.pogo.org/site/R?i=mC9f2pRc_f4XycoEcsl7tg

August 30, 2014          

Editor's Choice

Independent Weapons Testing Comes Under Fire, Again

In 1983, Congress passed a law to ensure that weapons would be tested to see if they actually work in real-world scenarios. Ever since, the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation has been under fire from critics in the defense industry and their allies in Congress, even though operational testing reduces the overall cost of weapons and makes sure our fighting men and women are given systems that work. Read more on POGO.org.
http://getinvolved.pogo.org/site/R?i=uc7ZIy7F8DFSD7elH0LkUA

Watchdogs and Whistleblowers: A Progress Report

This summer, POGO surveyed the websites of all 72 statutory Inspectors General to see how they are complying with a new law that requires them to have a Whistleblower Protection Ombudsman to provide information about whistleblowing to federal employees. Many agencies had comprehensive information and dedicated contact information for the ombudsman, but three agencies had little to no information on their website. Read more on POGO's blog.
http://getinvolved.pogo.org/site/R?i=_dBz4Hzc2zKsUgg0gfhSLA

Billions of Dollars in Federal Spending Not Reported

USAspending.gov is supposed to be a central website that allows the public to track all kinds of federal spending, but a Government Accountability Office audit found that in 2012 federal agencies failed to report nearly $619 billion in grants, loans, and voucher programs to the site. That's nearly one-quarter of what the government spent on federal assistance for that year. Read more on POGO's blog.
http://getinvolved.pogo.org/site/R?i=Un101FOtWwGfkqBRt8F82A

No More Excuses for Failing to Downblend

Highly enriched uranium is an enormously dangerous nuclear material used in nuclear weapons. With as little as 20 pounds, a terrorist could create an improvised nuclear device within minutes. So why isn't the government doing more to downblend the 375 metric tons of excess highly enriched uranium into a safer type of uranium? Read more on POGO's blog.
http://getinvolved.pogo.org/site/R?i=B_eGqYSM6-VsYPUUy8MMaw

Another Take on FOIA Objections by Contractors

Last week, POGO's Scott Amey wrote about contractors being allowed to redact government documents before they are released through Freedom of Information Act requests. In response, Scott received a thoughtful email from someone who has spent years on the other side of those redactions. Read the response on POGO's blog.
http://getinvolved.pogo.org/site/R?i=eiGOMOWMBBprxSioQMDuAg

POGO Joins in Asking FCC to Reform Radio Political Ad Info

This week, POGO joined 10 other groups in asking the Federal Communications Commission to require radio stations to post political ad spending information to an online database. Right now, that information is only available in physical files at individual radio stations, which can keep it from the public. Read more on POGO's blog.
http://getinvolved.pogo.org/site/R?i=NKJ8VFZurfeiRifS9_V4bQ

Come Work at POGO!

POGO is currently looking to fill two positions.
Congressional Program Coordinator: A former Hill staffer to help POGO expand its oversight training series to create a new initiative to strengthen the institutional role of Congress.
Jack Shanahan Fellow: A post 9/11 combat veteran interested in military reform and national security issues.
Visit our jobs page to find out more about the positions and how to apply.
http://getinvolved.pogo.org/site/R?i=6FyN1yZp3HkQBUcKggwnZg

Click Here to See's POGO's List of 10 Books that Matter
http://getinvolved.pogo.org/site/R?i=6zz8yCkmEwdkeOfrSnn7Hw

Tweets of the Week

"I hope the public decides to get angry and demand more truth" greatsentiment from @crelewis over on @POGOBlog. http://getinvolved.pogo.org/site/R?i=NUsZoNxWaJY0cE9Mv-rQrA
- Liz Hempowicz (@lizzy_loo_hoo) August 25, 2014
http://getinvolved.pogo.org/site/R?i=DNXyR3HEZztjfM2VBC6ySg

Every day I hear people complaining about the government. Do something. Speak up. Use your voice. I do. It counts. Follow @POGOBlog
- Holly Ann Thomas (@HollyGirlRox) August 25, 2014
http://getinvolved.pogo.org/site/R?i=Q96k91RAufxY_dmqkLCINQ

$500 million in #HealthCare.gov spending explained http://getinvolved.pogo.org/site/R?i=5XkSBZymrXQmwmjT184nZA #obamacare #ACA
- Scott Amey (@SAmeyJD) August 28, 2014
http://getinvolved.pogo.org/site/R?i=aAIKbgB_bNOsWnhpf9VP9A

#Congress doesn't work for a lot of reasons. Decimating its own ability to know anything's gotta be top among them. http://getinvolved.pogo.org/site/R?i=bMx2a2uqANcnXr7v2qouag
- Danni Downing (@dannidi) August 27, 2014
http://getinvolved.pogo.org/site/R?i=9aIHCLTHFqeUhuvPPVlXqA

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