| In This Issue |
Updates For Your Information
The Watcher is Now Available in PDF Format
OMB Watch's Executive Report
The Watcher is Now Available in PDF Format
OMB Watch's Executive Report
Federal Budget
Republicans Seek to Make Bush Tax Cuts Permanent
Information & Access
Comments Due this Week on FERC Rule Limiting Public Access
SEC Seeks Comment on Proposal for Mutual-Fund Disclosure
I Want My Digital Government(?)
Report Refutes Industry Right-to-Know 'Reforms'
Nonprofit Issues
Election Results Could Impact CARE Act
IRS Seeks Comments on Revised Application for Exempt Status
Regulatory Matters
Report Documents Steep Decline in Environmental Enforcement
The Watcher is Now Available in PDF Format (11/12/2002)
For your convenience, the OMB Watcher is now also available in full as a PDF document -- this will allow for viewing and printing of the entire issue in one document.
OMB Watch's Executive Report (11/12/2002)
The latest issue of OMB Watch's Executive Report is now available.
Republicans Seek to Make Bush Tax Cuts Permanent (11/12/2002)
While Republicans seem to have at least temporarily backed off efforts to pass new and costly tax cuts, including a reduction in the capital gains tax, there is renewed talk about making permanent the Bush tax cut, which is slated to expire at the end of 2010.
Comments Due this Week on FERC Rule Limiting Public Access (11/12/2002)
Public comments on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's proposal to limit public access to "critical energy infrastructure information" are due this Thursday, Nov. 14.
SEC Seeks Comment on Proposal for Mutual-Fund Disclosure (11/12/2002)
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is currently seeking comment on a proposed rule (published Sept. 19) that would require mutual fund companies to publicly disclose documents related to proxy voting, in which the company votes as a shareholder on behalf of mutual fund owners.
I Want My Digital Government(?) (11/12/2002)
Despite hard economic times, states are continuing to invest resources to increase government's capacity to deliver services online. But how effectively can digital government engage citizens who are often marginalized from, if not entirely left out of, civic participation, especially young people? Findings from an informative UK study provide useful insights for states to consider in their digital growth. More here…
Election Results Could Impact CARE Act (11/12/2002)
If the CARE Act on charitable giving is not passed in the lame duck session, it will have to be re-introduced in the next Congress, and re-considered by the Senate Finance Committee, which as a result of last week's elections, will have a new Republican chairman, Sen. Charles Grassley (IA).
IRS Seeks Comments on Revised Application for Exempt Status (11/12/2002)
Nonprofits are encouraged to review proposed IRS revisions to Form 1023, the application for recognition of exempt status under Section 501(c)(3), which includes charitable, educational, scientific, religious and other groups.
Report Documents Steep Decline in Environmental Enforcement (11/12/2002)
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) appears to be relaxing its enforcement efforts, with civil penalties declining by half over the Bush administration’s first full fiscal year, according to a new report by the Rockefeller Family Fund's Environmental Integrity Project.
Report Refutes Industry Right-to-Know 'Reforms' (11/12/2002)
The Georgetown Environmental Law & Policy Institute (GELPI) recently released a paper that responds to criticisms of environmental right-to-know programs and explains how industry’s proposed “procedural” reforms threaten to undermine them.