Health care for low-income and disabled people is being slashed as states face their third consecutive year of fiscal crisis. In 2003, almost every state legislature cut benefits, eligibility, or payments to health care providers, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. In March of 2003, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities estimated that based on proposed or recently enacted legislation, 1.7 million people would lose coverage, and many others will lose various health benefits such as prescription drugs, dental, vision, and home health care even though they remain insured.


State Budget Cuts - From the Ridiculous to the Tragic (08/11/2003)
A random Internet search reveals the extent of state budget cuts -- from the ridiculous to the horrific, from frugal penny-pinching to measures that may be penny-wise but are ultimately pound-foolish.

New State Information (08/11/2003)
National Priorities Project Introduces "Quick Reports"

Internal Revenue Service Scales Back EITC Certification Plan (08/11/2003)
Initial Internal Revenue Service (IRS) plans to "pre-certify" certain recipients of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) have come under considerable criticism by advocates during the past few months. After agreeing to allow a comment period on the process and the forms, the IRS substantially modified the program. See the IRS press release.

September Will be Appropriations Month (08/11/2003)
Looking foward to a hectic September...

With Patriot III tour planned, Congress & lawsuits challenge Patriot Act (08/11/2003)
The Patriot Act faced serious challenges recently from Congress and the courts in what some are calling a turning point in the debate over the controversial law. Meanwhile, after running into attacks for Patriot II, Attorney General John Ashcroft plans a roadshow to gather support for Patriot III, legislation being prepared by Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) that would further expand the federal government's powers.

Executive Order Assigns Information Sharing Development to DHS (08/11/2003)
The President issued an Executive Order July 29 that gives Secretary of Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Tom Ridge authority to develop the information sharing functions under the Homeland Security Act of 2002.

Support for 1st amendment rights grows, poll finds (08/11/2003)
Public support for the First Amendment has returned to levels that existed prior to the September 11 attacks, a poll by the First Amendment Center finds.


Counterterrorism Database Could Threaten Privacy (08/11/2003)
A Florida counterterrorism database is raising questions over the balance between personal privacy and homeland security. The Multistate Anti-Terrorism Information Exchange (MATRIX) system is the most recent government tool that pushes the envelope for the amount and type of information on individuals that the government uses.

First Data Quality Lawsuit Filed (08/11/2003)
The Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI), an anti-regulatory group, filed the first lawsuit under the Data Quality Act (DQA) against the White House Office of Science and Technology (OSTP). The suit challenges a climate change report, “National Assessment of the Potential Consequences of Climate Variability and Change,” and seeks to prevent its dissemination to the public.

Senate Denied Information, Again (08/11/2003)
The Treasury Department is following in the Bush administration’s footsteps of refusing to provide Congress with requested information. The Bush administration has shown a consistent trend of refusing congressional requests for information including such matters as the energy task force; use of new powers granted under the Patriot Act; and the classified Saudi section of the 9/11 report. Now the Treasury Department joins the dance with a complete reversal on its commitment to provide to the Senate Government Affairs Committee a list of Saudi individuals and organizations that the government has investigated for possible financing of terrorist groups.

EPA Misinformation Could Pose Health Risks for the Public (08/11/2003)
The Inspector General’s office at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is investigating whether EPA mislead the public by stating in recent reports that 94 percent of community water systems met all health-based standards in 2002. EPA data directly contradicts the claim and reveals that the actual number could be much lower – only 79 to 84 percent of systems.

OMB Watch Calls for Withdrawal of Anti-Terrorist Financing Guidelines for Nonprofits (08/11/2003)
The IRS is seeking comments on ideas that U.S. charities might employ to prevent diversion of charitable assets to terrorists. In seeking comments, the IRS references guidelines issued by the Treasury Department last November that were published without public comment. In submitting comments to the IRS, OMB Watch calls for the withdrawal of these November guidelines since they do not reduce the risk of diversion of charitable assets to terrorists, are inconsistent with federal and state laws and place charities in a governmental role of collecting information and assessing potential for terrorist activities.

Report Documents Administration's Political Interference with Science (08/11/2003)
The Democratic staff of the House Committee on Government Reform recently released a report examining the Bush administration’s handling of scientific matters -- finding in many cases, that scientific integrity has been sacrificed to further a political or ideological agenda.


Court Rejects Tire Pressure Monitoring Rule as Too Weak (08/11/2003)
A federal appeals court recently rejected a weak standard, issued by the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA), to guard against under-inflated tires, calling it “contrary to the law and arbitrary and capricious.”

FDA Rolls Back Olestra Labeling Requirements (08/11/2003)
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently lifted requirements that food containing olestra, a zero-calorie fat substitute, bear a statement informing consumers that the additive may cause gastrointestinal problems.

Rule Allows Timber Projects to Avoid Environmental Assessments (08/11/2003)
The Forest Service recently issued standards allowing timber projects to eschew environmental assessments and impact statements -- normally required under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) -- provided that the affected area poses a risk of wildfire or contains insect-infested or diseased trees.

Senate Puts Aside GOP Energy Bill, Passes Last Year's Version (08/11/2003)
Senate Republicans recently agreed to set aside their energy bill (S. 14) after negotiations had reached a standstill and instead passed last year's Democratic version (formerly H.R. 4) by a vote of 84 to 14 on July 31.

Senators and Secretive Saudis Ask US to Declassify 9/11 Report (08/11/2003)
Pressure is mounting on Capitol Hill to declassify the blanked out 28-page section of the congressional joint report on intelligence failures before and after the events of September 11, 2001.