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Case 1.1: Do NOT Read This Case!: The NSA’s Surveillance Program

Audio:

• The Diane Rehm Show – New Details on the Scope of NSA Surveillance
  This fifty minute radio program provides an overview of NSA surveillance activity from experts in information privacy and civil liberties.
   

Infographic:

• USA Today – How NSA collects, analyzes phone records 
  This infographic from USA Today explains how the NSA might be using data from phone records.
   

Videos:

• PBS Newshour – From the Archives: NSA Surveillance Seven Years Earlier 
  This news video from 2006 features commentary on whether or not the public should expect their phone records to be private.
• The Colbert Report – PRISM Surveillance Program 
  Comedian Stephen Colbert explains the NSA’s surveillance program.
• The Colbert Report – NSA Press Conference on Domestic Spying 
  Comedian Stephen Colbert explains the challenge of being transparent about secret government programs.
   

Case 1.2: Snow Removal in the Blizzard of 2010: Who Gets Plowed First?

Video:

•  Bloomberg – ‘Snowmageddon’ Costs Taxpayers Millions, More to Come 
  This video from Bloomberg TV estimates the cost of snow removal on the U.S. East Coast in the wake of the early 2010 blizzard.
   

Web Resources:

• Washington, DC Snow Response Reporting System 
  City governments, like Washington, DC, are using the internet to get reports on snow-related road problems from local residents and drivers.
• Chicago Magazine – Snowpocalypse Then: How the Blizzard of 1979 Cost the Election for Michael Bilandic
  Clearing out the snow is not a new problem for local government.  Note how Chicago Mayor Bilandic responded to concerns about the sick and elderly during the blizzard of 1979.
   

Case 1.3: Google Earth versus Privacy in Riverhead, New York

Audio:

• NPR – Town Stops Using Google Earth to Spot Illegal Pools
  This report from NPR’s All Things Considered includes an interview with Leroy Barnes Jr., the building inspector who used Google Earth to identify pools in Riverhead, New York.
   

Web Resources:

• Governing – Embracing Google Earth 
  This article from Governing describes other applications of Google Earth by local governments.
• USA Today – Google Earth helps yet worries government 
  According to USA Today, governments are also concerned about how Google Earth might violate their privacy.

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Case 2.1: Pennsylvania: Who is in charge of Homeland Security?

Audio:

• NPR - Homeland Security Remains an Agency in Progress 
  This radio news segment from NPR outlines organizational and financial challenges at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in late 2011.
   

Infographic:

• U.S. Department of Homeland Security – A Day in the Life of Homeland Security
  This infographic describes the scope of work conducted by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
   

Video:

• The Daily Show – Janet Napolitano Part 1 and Part 2
  John Stewart interviews former Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano in 2009.  Napolitano served as Secretary from 2009 to 2013.  She discusses challenges associated with running a large federal agency.

   

  http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/mon-october-12-2009/janet-napolitano-pt--1

  http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/mon-october-12-2009/janet-napolitano-pt--2
   

Web Resource:

• U.S. Department of Homeland Security – State Homeland Security Contacts
  Find a link to the office responsible for homeland security efforts in your state.
   
• PennLive.com – Pennsylvania Homeland Security office engaged in domestic surveillance, compared political groups to Al Qaeda 
  This online news article from November 2010 provides additional details about the documented in the case study.
   

Case 2.2: Reading License Plates: Collecting Data on American Citizens

Audio:

• NPR – License Plate Readers Spark Privacy Concerns
  This story from NPR’s Morning Edition rides along with police in the field using license plate readers.
   
• NPR – Your Digital Trail, and How It Can Be Used Against You
  The license plate data described in the case is not the only information that may be used to look through your past.  This story from NPR describes your digital data trail.

Video:

• CNN – Policing Advocates Defend Use of High-Tech License Plate Readers 
  This CNN story reports on privacy concerns associated with license plate reading technology.
   

Web Resources:

• LA Weekly – License Plate Recognition Logs Our Lives Before We Sin 
  This story reports on the expanding use of license plate reader technology in Southern California.
   

Case 2.3: Wasting Away? Fifty Examples of Government Waste

Audio:

• Marketplace – Cutting government waste by crunching the numbers 
  This news story explains how policy analysts can play a role in making government more efficient.
   

Video:

• The Campaign to Cut Waste and web resource: The Campaign to Cut Waste 
  President Obama and Vice President Biden launched a Campaign to Cut Waste during their first term in office.  Review the White House webpage on the initiative and consider the examples of waste discussed by President Obama in the video.
   
• Fox News – What Government Could and Should Cut 
  Critiques of government spending sometimes focus on specific programs and sometimes focus on the general size and scope of government.  Consider this report from Fox News as an example.
   
• The Colbert Report – Muffingate 
  Comedian Stephen Colbert discusses a government investigation about $16 muffins.
   

Web Resource:

• Congressional Pig Book from Citizens Against Government Waste
  Citizens Against Government Waste is an advocacy organization that draws attention to government spending and waste.  They publish a “Congressional Pig Book” every two years to highlight programs about which they are concerned.

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Case 3.1: The Administrative State: Enforcement of Speeding Laws and Police Discretion

Infographic:

• Auto Blog—Speeding tickets
  About 65 speeding tickets are issued per minute in the United States.  Find other fun facts through this infographic from Autoblog.com.
   

Video:

• ABC—Police speeding
  Should police use their discretion to not issue a speeding ticket to police officers or other government officials?  This news video highlights how administrative discretion might lead to public controversy.
   

Web Resource:

• The Seattle Times—Police speed trap snaring bicyclists, too 
  Automobile drivers are not the only ones on the road who must worry about how police officers use their discretion when issuing speeding tickets.  This story from Seattle reports that bicyclists are being issued speeding tickets for speeding in school zones.
   

Case 3.2: Should Private Contractors Be Guarding Government Buildings?

Video:

• CNN—A simple solution to the TSA breakdown
  When the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) was formed following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, airport screeners became public employees.  Now, some advocate for returning to screening by private sector employees.  Consider the commentary and debate in this video.
   
• CBS News—Shutdown impacts small government contractor in Calif.
  Because the government purchases so many goods and services through contracts, the federal government shutdown in October 2013 had consequences for businesses around the country.  Consider the example in this video from CBS News.
   

Web Resources:

• The New York Times—In Washington, contractors take on biggest role ever
  This New York Times article explores the scope of contracting by the federal government.
   

Case 3.3: Crisis of Water in Maryland: Created or Solved?

Audio:

• WAMU 88.5—In Prince George’s County, 100,000 to go without water during main repairs 
  A WAMU radio story describes the preparation for the water main shut-off, including instructions to local residents.
   

Video:

• Prince George’s County water outage averted, officials say 
  This local news video describes the aftermath of the anticipated water shut-off discussed in the case study.
   
• ABC News—WSSC’s Water Main Replacement
  The Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission produced a video and brochure to explain the challenge of replacing water mains.

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Case 4.1: Differences in Organization Culture: Is the FBI from Mars and the CIA from Venus?

Audio:

• NPR – Has Sept. 11 changed how agencies share secrets?
  This story from National Public Radio’s Morning Edition describes improvements in information sharing and the ongoing culture divides between the CIA and FBI.
   

Video:

• CNN - Director of national intelligence has little real authority
  When the third Director of National Intelligence, Dennis Blair, left the position, the media described the challenge of coordinating national intelligence among agencies including the FBI and the CIA.
   

Web Resource:

• DNI—Office of the Director of National Intelligence
  Explore the website of the Director of National Intelligence in order to learn more about how the federal government coordinates work across different intelligence gathering agencies.
   
• The 9-11 Commission—The National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States
  Analysis from the 9-11 Commission is referenced in the case study.  Reports and documents from that commission remain available to the public online.
   

Case 4.2: Learning to See in the New York Police Department: How Studying Art Makes You a Better Cop

Audio:

• NPR – Are cops properly trained to deal with people with disabilities?
  After listening to this story, consider how programs might be designed to help police officers have better interactions with people who have disabilities.
   

Video:

• CBS News – Police officers in training 
  Why might public service professionals, like police officers, require additional training like the art program discussed in the case study?
   
• Fox News – New training required after police shoot family dog 
  After watching this news story from Colorado, consider how events like the shooting of a family dog might encourage efforts to change the culture of a police organization.
   

Case 4.3: Ben Proposes Marriage: Romantic Gesture or Abuse of Police Power?

Audio:

• NPR – Restoring citizens’ trust in police departments
  This story from NPR describes how police departments in major cities have taken steps to restore public trust in the police.
   

Video:

• Huffington Post Canada – Arrest/Wedding proposal video in Saint John is cruel yet cute
  The Huffington Post Canada provides video of the marriage proposal discussed in the case study.
   

Web Resource:

• Washington Post – Delegate apologizes for using officers in marriage proposal
  As reported in The Washington Post, the use of police to aid in marriage proposals goes beyond the example in the case study.

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Case 5.1: The Boston Marathon Bombing: Effective Coordinated Response

Audio:

• NPR – Boston tests the limits of emergency planning
  This story from NPR in 2006 highlights emergency management improvements that occurred in Boston following Hurricane Katrina.
   

Video:

• Boston.com—Boston EMS radio traffic offers inside look at response to Boston Marathon bombings 
  This video and audio mix lets viewers hear how emergency personnel responded to the Boston Marathon bombing.
   
• MIT Video—Edward Davis – Boston Police Commissioner, Remarks at MIT Crisis Management and Business Continuity Panel
  Boston’s Police Commissioner describes the events that occurred during the bombing and how his department responded.
   
• YouTube—HBO History Makers with Thad W. Allen
  This one hour discussion with Admiral Thad Allen provides insight into emergency management challenges including the Allen’s experience after Hurricane Katrina.  Compare Allen’s comments on emergency management to those of Boston Police Commission in the link provided above.
   

Case 5.2: Which Way for Cheese? Conflicting Policies at the U.S. Department of Agriculture

Audio:

• NPR – U.S. pushes cheese – and warns against it.
  NPR offers an interview with the New York Times reporter who identified the tension over cheese at the USDA discussed in the case study.

Infographic:

• The Pew Charitable Trusts— Five facts you should know about school meals
  The Pew Charitable Trusts Health Initiative presents facts about school meals.
   

Video:

• The Daily Show – Starved by the bell: Kids protest school lunch calorie limits 
  Comedian John Stewart explains the controversy over new healthier school lunch guidelines.
   
• The Colbert Report – Thought for food: School potato guidelines and fast food stamps
  Comedy Central’s coverage of school lunch continues with sharp commentary from Steven Colbert on the limitation of tater tots in school lunches.
   

Case 5.3: Partly Cloudy? Wyoming Moves to Google Apps for Government

Audio:

• NPR – Migrating to e-mail in the cloud
  This report details challenges that government agencies have experienced when moving e-mail and data to the cloud.

Video:

• YouTube—Cloud computing explained
  The General Services Administration, the federal government’s property management arm, explains cloud computing.
   
• YouTube—Government Technology – Colorado goes Google Apps for government 
  The Chief Information Officer for the State of Colorado explains why state agencies moved to google applications.
   

Web Resources:

• IBM Center for The Business of Government—Moving to the cloud: An introduction to cloud computing in government
  This report from the IBM Center for the Business of Government outlines basic information about how government is moving toward cloud computing.

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Case 6.1: Sunset, the Golden Retriever: Governor Schwarzenegger and the Restructuring of California’s Executive Branch

Audio:

• NPR – Voters roundly reject Schwarzenegger  initiatives 
  Gov. Schwarzenegger attempted to use state ballot initiatives to ask voters to approve reforms.  This story from NPR describes the defeat of his proposals at the polls and his efforts to continue reform.
   

Video:

• The Daily Show – Arnold Schwarzenegger
  After his time as Governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger was interviewed by Comedy Central’s Jon Stewart.  In addition to discussing state reform, he addresses controversies in his personal life that came to light after his time in office.
   

Web Resources:

• CA.gov—California Performance Review
  The website for the California Performance Review provides the report discussed in the case study, with the proposal to eliminate 88 boards and commissions.
   
• New York Times – Russia asks Schwarzenegger to help in a tough task
  The reform efforts of Gov. Schwarzenegger described in the case study captured global attention, leading Schwarzenegger to consult with other countries on bureaucratic reform.
   

Case 6.2: Obama Launces Management Reform: New—or Recycled—Ideas?

Audio:

• NPR – Focus sharpens on Obama’s management style 
  Apart from President Obama’s management reform efforts for the federal government, the media is also interested in President Obama’s management style.
   

Video:

• YouTube—President Obama speaks on the new management agenda
  President Obama outlines his management reform ideas in 2013, during his second term.
   
• YouTube—The Campaign to Cut Waste
  Consider this video of President Obama discussing his efforts to cut government waste early in his first term.  How does this video compare to the management reforms proposed by President Obama in the prior video?
   

Web Resources

• Government Executive – Obama on management reform: It’s a private matter
  This article explains that President Obama, like many of his predecessors, is looking to the private sector for models of good management.
   

Case 6.3: Naughty Aughties: Has American Government Become More Centralized?

Audio:

• NPR – Roberts nominated for Chief Justice
  How can changes on the Supreme Court influence the balance of power between the federal government and the states?  Consider the discussion of federalism in this NPR interview which occurred upon the nomination of John Roberts to the position of Chief Justice.
   

Video:

• The Colbert Report – Margaret Spellings 
  U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spelling sat down with Comedy Central’s Stephen Colbert in 2008.  How does Sec. Spellings describe the role of the federal government in education policy?
   
• CNN – Earl Devaney, stimulus watchdog
  The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 brought about new transparency efforts, which the case study identified as a factor centralizing government.  This profile from CNN introduces us to the individual responsible for implementing those transparency efforts.
   
• ABC News – Katrina Five Years Later
  ABC News has archived news reports from their original coverage of Hurricane Katrina along with coverage on the five year anniversary.  Consider, how did this event contribute to centralization trends discussed in the case study?

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Case 7.1: How Best to Contribute to Public Good: Government or Non-Profit?

Infographic:

• Third Sector Today—Nonprofit power: The Sector is on the rise
  This infographic from Third Sector Today explains the basic features of non-profit organizations and notes that ten percent of the U.S. workforce is employed in the sector.
   

Web Resources:

• Idealist Careers – Tips from a hiring manager: How college grads can break into the nonprofit sector
  This article provides practical tips on getting a job in the non-profit sector.
   
• U.S. News – How to make a career in public service
  This article explores different approaches to preparing for a career in public service—in government or the non-profit sector.
   
• Washington Post – Inspiring the young to public service 
  Public sector managers recognize the need to reach out to college graduates and recruit young workers.  Consider this recent blog post from The Washington Post.
   

Case 7.2: Poking through the Luggage: At San Francisco Airport, Private Contractors (Not the TSA) Inspect Your Bags

Audio:

• NPR – Airports consider using private security screeners
  This story about airport screening considers the debate about screening by private sector contractors.
   

Video:

• CNN – One city outsources most public services 
  Contracting out services is not limited to the federal government.  Many local governments have contracted out their services to private vendors or other governments for decades.   This video provides an example from Georgia.
   
• The Daily Show – How safe aren’t we? The sharper luggage
  Comedian John Stewart reviews criticisms of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) that illustrate the challenge of their work whether conducted by public or private employees.
   

Web Resource:

• Transportation Security Administration – Frequently Asked Questions, Screening Partnership Program
  The TSA provides answers to common questions about their use of private vendors for security screening.
   

Case 7.3: StateStat: Performance Management in Maryland State Government

Video:

• YouTube—StateStat Update – Protecting Maryland’s vulnerable youth 
  In this video, Gov. O’Malley reviews progress on performance in several areas related to youth in the state.
   

Web Resources:

• Maryland.gov—Maryland’s StateStat
  The data and management system discussed in the case study can be found online.  Click on “reports” and investigate the wide range of state services with performance reports available to the public.
   
• IBM Center for the Business of Government—What all mayors would like to know about Baltimore’s CitiStat performance strategy
  This report from the IBM Center for the Business of Government describes how Gov. O’Malley used performance data as a management tool when he was mayor of Baltimore City.

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Case 8.1: Who is More Efficient—Government Workers or Private Contractors?

Audio:

• NPR – Health exchange tech problems point to a thornier issue
  Recently, the contracting debate emerged during discussions about the launch of the healthcare.gov website.  According to this report, why is the selection of contractors a challenge for government?
   

Video:

• Fox News – What to cut? Federal gov’t takes on more duties, as states take on less
  This news video reviews the government outsourcing debate.  What assumptions are made about government and private sector efficiency?
   

Web Resource:

• WhiteHouse.gov—Competitive souring: Conducting public-private competition in a reasoned and responsible manner
  This report outlines the Bush administration’s approach to competitive sourcing in the federal government.
   

Case 8.2: Federal Furloughs: Government Employees Suffer from Budget (Mis)Management

Audio:

• NPR – Sequester scorecard: A month later, effects till up in air
  This report from NPR outlines the initial impacts of the budget sequester in April, 2013.

• NPR – Furloughs only the latest blow to federal worker morale
  The impact of furloughs on worker morale is addressed in this report from NPR.
   

Video:

• CBS News – Furloughed employees speak out against shutdown 
  Beyond the furlough discussed in the case study, a federal government shutdown during the fall of 2013 also left federal employees out of work.  This video shares the impact of the furlough on federal employees through their own words.
   
• The Daily Show – Cut Punters – Sequester La-di-da
  Comedy Central’s John Stewart investigates the extent to which Congress was warned that furloughs of federal government employees would impact air travel.
   

Case 8.3: Keeping Volunteers Out of the Library? Battling the Teacher’s Union in Bridgewater, Massachusetts

Audio:

• NPR – Volunteer firefighters: Facing the flames and the mundane
  Local governments rely on volunteers for the delivery of many services, including fire services.  This report from NPR explains the work of volunteer firefighters, who make up about 70 percent of fire service in the United States.
   

Infographic:

• State Stats.org—Why support your local library?
  This infographic explains the scope of service offered by local libraries.  Scroll toward the bottom to learn about the importance of volunteer labor in many local libraries.
   

Web Resource:

• Corporation for National & Community Service (AmeriCorps)
  If you are interested in public service, check out the programs run by AmeriCorps in order to determine if this might be a good path for your own entry into public service.

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Case 9.1: The Brain Drain: Planning for the Coming Federal Retirement Boom

Audio:

• Federal News Radio – Forecasting the retirement wave: What’s behind the flubbed predictions?
  This report explains the difficulty in predicting retirements in the federal government.
   
•  Federal News Radio – Panel discussion: Combating a retirement-driven brain drain
  What strategies do government managers use to preserve knowledge within their agencies when important employees retire?
   

Infographic:

• Government Executive – The Lifecycle of Retirement
  This infographic from Government Executive assesses how federal employees have prepared for retirement.
   

Web Resources:

• Government Executive – The retirement wave you didn’t see coming
  According to this article, why might the retirement problem for government be bigger than previously anticipated?
   

Case 9.2: Reining in the Unions? State Employees Targeted in Wisconsin, Ohio and Beyond

Audio:

• NPR – Across U.S., Unions fight to keep bargaining rights
  The role of state government in defining state employee benefits is described by this story from NPR.
   

Video:

• Fox News – Facts and figures behind Wisconsin protests
  This news clip from Fox News describes the debate about state employee collective bargaining as it unfolded in 2011.

• The Daily Show – Scott Walker prevails in Wisconsin recall
  Comedy Central’s John Stewart discusses the political outcomes of the Wisconsin recall election that targeted Gov. Scott Walker after his efforts to curb unions, as described in the case study.
   

Web Resource:

• The Pew Charitable Trusts – The widening gap
  This map of the fifty states shows how state governments are managing the costs of state employee pensions and retiree health care.
   

Case 9.3: Who You Gonna Call? It’s One Man Who Decides Who Gets How Much from the BP Oil Spill Compensation Fund

Audio:

• NPR—Managing the $30 million ‘one fund’ to aid Boston victims
  Kenneth Fienberg was called upon again to administer the fund for the victims of the Boston marathon bombing.  Consider the challenges he describes in this in-depth discussion with NPR.
   

Video:

• NBC News – BP claims czar: “We oversold this program”
  This story reflects on the early months of Kenneth Feinberg’s work after the oil spill.  What challenges did Feinberg confront when undertaking this unique work assignment?
   
• Bloomberg TV – Feinberg says “It appears” Gulf may recover in 2012
  In this video, Kenneth Feinberg discusses the process for claims related to the oil spill.  Feinberg talks about economic recovery in the Gulf region and addresses critiques of his work.

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Case 10.1: Baltimore Battles the Banks

Audio:

• WYPR Maryland Morning – From Wall Street…to Eutaw Street
  This story from Baltimore’s local NPR station addresses the city’s legal strategies against major banks in the wake of the economic crisis.  According to the report, why did local government officials take action rather than leaving matters to the federal government or other regulators?
   
• NPR – LIBOR spotlight shifts to U.S. regulators
  This report from NPR highlights the role of U.S. regulators in monitoring complicated international financial transactions.  After listening to this report, reflect on the role of U.S. regulators in the case study.
   

Web Resources:

• New York Times – Judge rejects much of LIBOR lawsuit against banks
  As a follow-up to the details presented in the case study, this New York Times article explains that Baltimore City was largely unsuccessful in its efforts to pursue action against the banks in court.
   

Case 10.2: Pay to Spray? Fire Protection and the Free Rider Problem in South Fulton, Tennessee

Video:

• NBC News – ‘No pay, no spray’ case: Firefighters ‘threatened’
  A local fire chief from Obion County, Tennessee explains subscription fees for fire service, as well as other models of funding rural fire service.
   
• WPSD News – Community concerned about reputation after ‘pay for spray’
  After another house burned in the same county, a local news story outlined options for providing fire service in rural areas.  After watching the video, consider what barriers exist to expanding fire service in the areas described in the story.
   

Web Resource:

• U.S. Fire Administration – Mitigation of the rural fire problem in the United States
  The federal government has worked with state and local agencies to develop plans to improve rural fire service in the United States.  Review the documents they offer online.  Could their strategies help counties like the one discussed in the case study?
   

Case10.3: Tweeting to the Rescue? How the Mayor of Newark Used Social Media to Improve Public Service Delivery

Audio:

• NPR – Some N.J. politicians feeling heat over blizzard
  This story from NPR reviews how state and local leaders in New Jersey confronted the snow.  Compare the responses by New Jersey state leaders to those discussed in the case study.
   

Video:

• The Daily Show— Hillary Clinton joins Twitter
  Comedy Central’s team at The Daily Show offers Twitter advice to politicians.
   

Web Resource:

• Govloop – 15 commandments for gov’t agencies on Twitter
  Review these rules for government agencies using Twitter.  What challenges do public agencies confront when using social media?
   
• Twitter – Cory Booker
  Cory Booker is now a United States Senator representing New Jersey.  How is Sen. Booker making use of online social media, in comparison to his use of the technology as a mayor?

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Case 11.1: Going Black: The United States’ “Black Budget” Intelligence Operations

Audio:

• NPR – Leaked documents reveal budget breakdown between CIA, NSA
  This story from NPR provides additional details about national intelligence spending, comparing the most recently leaked information to information that was leaked about “black budget” spending in 1994.
   

Video:

• CBS News – How damaging is the release of America’s top-secret spy budget?
  This news clips comments on information revealed in the secret national intelligence budget that was leaked to the public.
   
• Fox News – Inside look at US spy agencies’ ‘black budget’
  A panel discusses the intelligence leaks that led to our new understanding of the content of the “black budget” discussed in the case study.  What are the arguments for and against keeping this budget information secret?
   

Web Resource:

• Business Insider – U.S. Intelligence Funding
  This graphic illustrates secret national intelligence spending by agency and by type of activity.
   

Case 11.2: From the Front Lines of Budgeting: Funding SEPTA

Audio:

• WHYY – SEPTA Update
  This story from Philadelphia’s local NPR station discusses the SETPA budget and system updates.
   

Video:

• Fox Philadelphia – SEPTA funding cuts could affect thousands of passengers
  This video explains the latest funding cut threats to SEPTA and outlines the consequences for riders.
   

Infographic:

• Communities for Transit – Conserving Scarce Road Space
  This infographic compares the efficiency of various modes of transportation.
   

Case 11.3: Performing Under Fire: Budget Constraints Force Fire Departments to Better Manage Resources

Audio:

• NPR – What happens when a city declares bankruptcy
  This segment from NPR discusses a pending bankruptcy for the City of San Bernardino, CA.  According to the discussion, why are the costs of police and fire services important considerations for city budgets?
   
• NPR – Burning away cash: Pension plight in Rhode Island
  In addition to paying for the costs of current services, cities must also pay pensions and benefits for retirees.  According to this story from NPR, what are the costs of pensions a challenge for local governments?
   

Video:

• KETV – Mayor, union in fire layoff negotiations
  In addition to the examples described in the case study, this news clip from Omaha, Nebraska identifies the challenges in managing local budgets for fire services.

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Case 12.1: Crashing to Earth: Obama’s Signature Health Insurance Program Stumbles

Audio:

• The Diane Rehm Show – Ongoing rollout challenges for the Affordable Care Act
  As the events described in the case study were unfolding, this hour long-segment from NPR’s Diane Rehm described the implementation challenges faced by the Obama administration.
   
• NPR - The key test for Healthcare.gov is the part you can’t see
  This story explains improvements to the Healthcare.gov website and outlines remaining challenges.  According to the story, why is the implementation of a large-scale technology project a challenge for the federal government?
   

Video:

• CBS News – Healthcare.gov not perfect, but usable
  This clip from CBS news explains improvements to the Healthcare.gov website.  According to this story, what challenges remain for the website and the implementation of the Affordable Care Act?
   
• The Daily Show – Home page improvement
  Comedy Central’s John Stewart discusses problems with the Healthcare.gov website.
   

Web Resource:

• The Sacramento Bee – The human factor in government technology
  This article in The Sacramento Bee argues that government technology projects require quality personnel.  What might the author say about the problems described in the case study?
   

Case 12.2: Can You See Me Now? Local Officials Grumble at the New Federal Road Sign Requirements

Video:

• KVAL News – Half life of a “High St.” sign was about 4 days at one point
  Eugene, Oregon undertook a massive street-sign replacement project as a result of the new federal guidelines discussed in the case study.  What additional challenges does Eugene face in street sign maintenance?
   
• ABC News – Mysterious street signs
  New guidelines from the federal government are not the only street-sign challenge for local governments these days.  How should local governments respond to this challenge?
   

Web Resource:

• ABC News – Ray LaHood: Street sign regulations ‘make no sense’
  U.S. Sec. of Transportation Ray LaHood also had reservations about the costs of the requirements discussed in the case study.  Why might LaHood seek public comment after the new sign requirements were announced?
   

Case 12.3: Whooping Cough Epidemic in Washington: The Importance of Public Health

Video:

• CNN – Experts: Vaccines are necessary
  This report from CNN expands on the problem with vaccination rates discussed in the case study.
   
• Fox News – Should gov’t be allowed to force vaccination on your kids?
  The controversy surrounding government vaccine requirements are discussed in this video featuring Fox News host Sean Hannity.
   
• The Colbert Report – The Word: Early Immunization"
  Comedy Central’s Stephen Colbert explains the problem with early childhood vaccinations.

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Case 13.1: “The Dude” and Seattle’s Police: Conflicting Marijuana Policies

Audio:

• World’s eyes on Washington’s new recreational pot rules
  This report from NPR describes the process of regulating marijuana in Washington after its legalization by voters there.
   

Video:

• CBS News – Marijuana use to be regulated by states, Justice Dept. says
  According to this report, why does confusion exist about marijuana regulation in the U.S. federal system?
   
• Today Show – Debate over marijuana legalization
  This segment from NBC’s Today Show covers arguments for and against the legalization of marijuana.
   
• The Colbert Report – Legal Weed in Colorado
  Comedy Central’s Stephen Colbert discusses the legalization of marijuana in Colorado.
   

Case 13.2: SCOTUS and Below: Comparing the U.S. Supreme Court and Lower Federal Courts’ Contribution to Public Administration

Audio:

• NPR – Court says west Los Angeles VA rental deals were illegal
  The federal courts can direct public agencies to take corrective action if a lawsuit calls their action into question.  After listening to this story, consider how the federal courts are trying to influence the administration of public programs.
   

Video:

• ABC News – Supreme Court rules on Arizona immigration laws
  How has the involvement of the federal courts shaped the local implementation of immigration policies in Arizona?  Consider this story from ABC News on the Supreme Court’s decision on Arizona’s immigration enforcement laws.
   
• The Colbert Report – The Voting Rights Act & Gay Marriage – Emily Bazelon
  In this interview, Comedy Central’s Stephen Colbert investigates the implications of two Supreme Court decisions on state governments and the implementation of public policy.
   

Infographic:

• Statereforum - Governors respond to Supreme Court’s Affordable Care Act decision
  The case study describes the political conflict that emerges from court decisions.  This infographic presents the various opinions of state governors after the Supreme Court’s decision on the Affordable Care Act.
   

Case 13.3: Profile in ICE? Local Officials Opt Out of Federal Program They Worry Could Lead to Racial Profiling

Audio:

• NPR – Under Obama, more illegal immigrants sent home
  This story from NPR reviews the Obama administration record on immigration and deportation.
   

Video:

• ABC News – Woman faced deportation after calling 911
  This story from ABC news describes challenges with the implementation of the ICE Secure Communities program.
   
• Fox Boston – Immigration enforcement down since Secure Communities, report shows
  This news clip from Boston’s local Fox station discusses how the Secure Communities program is being implemented.
   

Web Resource:

• ICE – Secure Communities: Get the Facts
  The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency (ICE) provides information on their website about the Secure Communities Program.

Click on the following links. Please note these will open in a new window.

Case 14.1: The Department of Expectation Management

Audio:

• NPR – Distrusting government: As American as apple pie
  This story from NPR reviews the history of public distrust in government.  What role might a Department of Expectation Management play in improving public trust in government?
   

Video:

• The Daily Show – Affordable Horror Story
  In this video clip from Comedy Central’s The Daily Show, how expectations about the Affordable Care Act being managed?
   

Web Resource:

• Pew Research Center for the People & The Press – Public Trust in Government: 1958-2013
  This page provides information from public opinion polling about public trust in government, with comparison data on the economy and consumer confidence.
   

Case 14.2: Scary Words: Governments Must Start “Doing More With Less”

Audio:

• NPR – Much like corporate sector, state governments trim workforce
  This story from NPR describes how state and local governments around the country are reducing the size of their workforces and “doing more with less.”
   

Video:

• KENS 5 – Doing more with less: San Antonio calls for $13 million in spending cuts
  This news clip from San Antonio, Texas describes how the city plans to “do more with less.”
   
• CBS News – Connecticut discovers less is more with health exchange website
  As illustrated by this news story, some governments benefit from the efficiency of “doing less.”
   

Case 14.3: Will We Drink to That? The Florida Board of Education’s War on Chocolate Milk

Audio:

• NPR – What’s to love and loathe about chocolate milk?
  This story from NPR offers the pros and cons on chocolate milk in public schools.
   

Infographic:

• Daily Infographic – The fate of chocolate milk in schools
  What message is this infographic attempting to convey about chocolate milk in schools?
   

Video:

• Fox News – Schools banning chocolate milk?
  This report from Fox News explains that chocolate milk bans are being considered in schools to address childhood obesity problems.