In a speech on April 7, Federal Reserve Board Chairman Ben Bernanke provided his analysis of the financial crisis that began in 2007, and the current regulatory environment.

Other top current and former officials have also offered their perspective on the origins of the financial crisis and possible policy responses. These include:

• Former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan’s paper, The Crisis, published in the Brookings Papers on Economic Activity (revised March 2010)
  
• Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner’s written testimony on the financial crisis and governmental and regulatory responses, before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform (January 2010) Continue Reading »

As April 15 approaches, some people may be thinking of ways to avoid filing that return.  In The Truth About Frivolous Tax Arguments the IRS debunks some of the most outrageous contentions about why a person does not have to file a tax return.  Best yet, each explanation includes citations to relevant regulations and case law.

Some of the wildest claims? The contention that the filing of a tax return is voluntary or that taxpayers can refuse to pay income tax on religious or moral grounds by invoking the First Amendment.

To determine if you legally need to file a tax return, see Do You Need to File a Federal Income Tax Return.

The web site of the U.S. Supreme Court has long been a valuable research tool, providing easy access to recent slip opinions, the court’s docket, transcripts of oral arguments, and much other useful information.

The recent redesign of the site brings a fresh look (with red and gold replacing the familiar blue) and adds new features and enhanced functionality. The main page now features an interactive calendar, direct links to recent opinions, and a rotating series of photographs. Also added: a new case citation finder and docket files back to 2000.

Also, check out the justices timeline, the directory of speeches by the Justices, and the case handling guides, including a guide for counsel preparing for oral argument.

For legal researchers and practitioners alike, this site is an indispensable resource.

Political junkies rejoice! C-Span is providing almost every minute of its archives free on the web at C-SpanVideo.org

For the full story, see yesterday’s New York Times.

In October 2008, Congress created the Congressional Oversight Panel (COP) to review and report on the regulatory system and financial markets. Under the leadership of the chair, Harvard Law professor Elizabeth Warren, COP has issued regular reports that provide perspective on the current status and future impact of the Troubled Assets Relief Program (TARP). Continue Reading »

The Congressional Research Service (CRS) is an agency of the U.S. Congress that prepares research reports on request from Members of Congress on a very wide range of topics. Some recent examples include:

• Who Regulates Whom? An Overview of U.S. Financial Regulation (40 pp., Dec. 14, 2009)
• A Comparative Analysis of Private Health Insurance Provisions of H.R. 3962 and S.Amdt. 2786 to H.R. 3590 (83 pp., Dec. 16, 2009)
• Afghanistan: Post-Taliban Governance, Security and U.S. Policy (92 pp., Dec. 30, 2009) Continue Reading »

With just over two weeks remaining in 2009, there may not be much time to make certain decisions that could affect your tax liability for the year. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) site provides information that can help, including its American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 Information Center and tips for charitable donations.  IRS also posts a Frequently Asked Questions section, Tax Information for Individuals, the Fact Sheets for the 2009, and and an online Help With Tax Questions service.

For detailed news, analysis and commentary on the health care legislation pending in Congress, consider these free and commercial sources:

• BNA’s Health Law Reporter
• Law 360: Health Law
• New York Times Topic: Health Care Reform
• Wall Street Journal: Health Care Overhaul

For other sources, check the law library’s guide to electronic resources on Health Law and Medical Information.

In an address to the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce last week, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick mentioned the possibility of closing the State Library as one of several cost-cutting measures to close a $600 million state budget gap.

Long known by law librarians as the best collection of Massachusetts legislative history documents, the State Library of Massachusetts also has the most complete collection of Massachusetts government documents in existence.  It also serves the public by providing rich resources on the state’s history, as well as local government information.  The library is open to the public.

If you wish to support the library, please sign the petition to help keep the library open.  If you are not comfortable signing online petitions, you may instead contact the Governor’s Office directly.

If Google is your go to place on the web, you do not want to miss this weekly workshop full of valuable tips and tricks to put the powers of Google to work for you.  We’ll cover how to:

• Find government information and patents
• Search Google Books and Google Scholar
• Use and customize iGoogle for law
• Limit searches to a website or file format
• Many more useful and easy shortcuts especially helpful to aspiring and practicing lawyers

Already an advanced googler, or at least know a trick or two?  Then come to share your best methods with your colleagues.  The 30-minute workshop is Wednesday, 11/4, 1pm, Room 312.