| In This Issue |
Federal Budget
Economy and Jobs Watch: Deficit Outlook
Economy and Jobs Watch: Employment Outlook
Poverty is Growing in the United States
Appropriations Update
A Guide to Block Grant Proposals
Cost of the War
Economy and Jobs Watch: Deficit Outlook
Economy and Jobs Watch: Employment Outlook
Poverty is Growing in the United States
Appropriations Update
A Guide to Block Grant Proposals
Cost of the War
Information & Access
Administration Secrecy Obstructs GAO Energy Inquiry
Agencies Cite Privacy More Often When Denying FOIA Requests
Industry and Nonprofits Divided In Support for Proposed CII Rule
Senators and Past Administrator Speak Out on EPA Response to 9/11
Nonprofit Issues
100 Hours of Continuous Testimony to Save AmeriCorps
NPAction.org: Online Resource for Nonprofit Advocacy Launches
Regulatory Matters
EPA Rolls Back Clean Air Standards for Power Plants
Administration Moves to Allow Snowmobiles in National Parks
EPA Allows Sales of PCB-Contaminated Sites
Administration Relaxes Emergency Room Standards
Administration Refuses to Act on Greenhouse Gases from Automobiles
Economy and Jobs Watch: Deficit Outlook (09/08/2003)
The 2004 deficit is set to grow to nearly $500 billion, and the 10-year deficit is likely to be nearly $6 trillion, a new OMB Watch analysis shows.
Economy and Jobs Watch: Employment Outlook (09/08/2003)
The nation’s job market continues to struggle. In August, even though the unemployment rate improved slightly – falling from 6.2 to 6.1 percent – payroll employment fell by 93,000 jobs.
Poverty is Growing in the United States (09/08/2003)
Poverty rates are rising according to new figures by the U.S. Census Bureau.
Appropriations Update (09/08/2003)
Following are some issues of interest that have risen during the FY 2004 appropriations process.
A Guide to Block Grant Proposals (09/08/2003)
The Coalition on Human Needs has developed a "Block Grant Chart."
Cost of the War (09/08/2003)
A "Cost of the War" counter constantly updates the rising costs of the war in Iraq and compares the cost to what could be accomplished in pre-school, kids' health, public education, college scholarships, energy independence and public housing. There is also a pull down chart that breaks out costs and comparisons of selected counties and cities in the US. (Java is required to run the counter correctly).
Administration Secrecy Obstructs GAO Energy Inquiry (09/08/2003)
Last week, the General Accounting Office (GAO) released a report culminating a contentious struggle to identify who helped craft the administration’s energy policy. While no startling revelations come from the document, GAO's report repeatedly rebukes the administration for withholding critical information.
Agencies Cite Privacy More Often When Denying FOIA Requests (09/08/2003)
Agencies are twice as likely to claim personal privacy in 2002 than in 1998 to justify denials of Freedom of Information (FOIA) requests. In 1998, just under 40 percent of FOIA denials were for personal privacy; in 2002, roughly 80 percent of denials were for privacy. Surprisingly, agencies use national security to explain refusals less often than they did several years ago.
Industry and Nonprofits Divided In Support for Proposed CII Rule (09/08/2003)
Comments submitted on the proposed Critical Infrastructure (CII) Rule by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) indicate disagreement between public interest groups and the private sector. OMB Watch posted the docket online last week when DHS failed to make them publicly available.
100 Hours of Continuous Testimony to Save AmeriCorps (09/08/2003)
AmeriCorps’ actions are felt throughout the nation.
NPAction.org: Online Resource for Nonprofit Advocacy Launches (09/08/2003)
OMB Watch recently launched NPAction.org, an online resource that provides tools for nonprofit advocacy. NPAction is an attempt to better engage nonprofits in the policy processes that affect them, while strengthening the capacity of those already active. For the first time, nonprofit organizations will be able to access useful materials, read advice from seasoned advocates, and connect to decision-makers through one-stop access to a range of continuously updated content, information services, and reference tools.
NPAction is the result of countless input from nonprofits across policy issues and geographic areas. It is supported by an national nonprofit advisory committee, and partner organizations like Charity Lobbying in the Public Interest.
EPA Rolls Back Clean Air Standards for Power Plants (09/08/2003)
The Bush administration recently approved a major rollback of the nation’s clean air standards that will allow increased pollution from the oldest and dirtiest power plants.
Administration Moves to Allow Snowmobiles in National Parks (09/08/2003)
The Bush administration recently proposed standards to allow the continued use of snowmobiles in Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks, overturning a Clinton-era ban that was never allowed to take effect.
EPA Allows Sales of PCB-Contaminated Sites (09/08/2003)
EPA recently lifted a 25-year ban on the sale of land contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls or PCBs, according to USA Today.
Administration Relaxes Emergency Room Standards (09/08/2003)
The Bush administration recently eased emergency room standards in ways that may make it more difficult to receive medical care.
Administration Refuses to Act on Greenhouse Gases from Automobiles (09/08/2003)
EPA recently denied a petition from environmental organizations imploring the agency to regulate carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions from automobiles.
Senators and Past Administrator Speak Out on EPA Response to 9/11 (09/08/2003)
Sens. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) and Joseph Lieberman (D-CT) sent a critical letter to President Bush Aug. 26, asking why the administration conveyed incomplete information about air quality hazards in New York City immediately after 9/11. The letter comes shortly after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Inspector General issued a report revealing the White House edited EPA public statements on air pollution to be more reassuring.