Publications :  The Watcher :  OMB Watcher Vol. 4: 2003 :  October 6, 2003 Vol.4 No.20 : 

In This Issue

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Jobs Picture Still Not Looking Good (10/06/2003)
On Friday, the Bush administration received what initially appeared to be good news on the economic front with its monthly release on employment. In September, the unemployment rate was unchanged from August at 6.1%, and there was a net gain of 57,000 jobs. The good news was that this was the first net gain in jobs in seven months. However, the jobs data continue to indicate that, in all likelihood, the Bush administration will likely be the first since Hoover’s to have a net job contraction during its tenure.

The Deficit As a Serious Problem (10/06/2003)
Like the Reagan administration, the Bush administration continues to describe the budget deficit as a manageable problem and presents a rosy picture in which deficits will soon diminish. But like the Reagan administration these comments are far from reality.

CEI Fluffs Up Data Quality Lawsuit (10/06/2003)
The Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI) recently amended its data quality lawsuit against the White House over a global warming study, adding violations of two statues – the Administrative Procedure Act and the U.S. Global Change Research Act.

Workforce Investment Act Passes through Senate Committee Without Religious Discrimination Provision (10/06/2003)
Senate Committee ignores the House's version of the Workforce Investment Act and passes its own version.

Suit Challenges Secret Service Protest Zones (10/06/2003)
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), representing four national advocacy groups, filed a federal suit against the Secret Service on Sept. 23.

Six Agencies Act on Faith-Based Regulations (10/06/2003)
In late September the Bush administration announced final regulations implementing faith-based grant rules that Congress could not even pass. For example, the rules place the burden of objecting to the religious nature of a service provider on the person in need, who must ask for an alternative provider. The regulations do not clearly define "inherently religious" activities that cannot be paid for with federal funds in grant programs. However, services paid for with vouchers or certificates can contain religious content. The rules also sanction discrimination based on religion in hiring for federally funded jobs. The rules apply to welfare, substance abuse and housing programs and take effect on Oct. 30. Similar new regulations were proposed by four agencies.

Offsets, Child Tax Credit Make CARE Act Fate Uncertain (10/06/2003)
Although legislation promoting charitable giving has passed both houses of Congress this year, it could still be derailed in conference committee. There are major differences over whether or not to include offsets that pay the cost of tax breaks for charitable giving. Further complications were added last week when Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME) proposed attaching the child tax credit provision to the bill that House Republican leaders strongly oppose. The move could either bring the child tax credit issue back to life or bog down the charitable giving legislation. The Senate version of the child tax credit provides $9.8 billion in tax relief that are offset through an extension of U.S. Custom user fees. The House version, which has a number of tax provisions, would cost $82 billion and has no offsets.

Despite Efforts to Delay, DUNS Number Requirement Goes into Effect (10/06/2003)
Don't forget that all organizations that apply for federal grants must have a DUNS number on their applications beginning last Wednesday, October 1.

International NGOs are Gagged From Saving Lives (10/06/2003)
A study released on Sept. 24 reports that President Bush’s ideologies are once again trumping science, this time closing down international family planning and HIV/AIDS prevention programs.

Administration Relaxes Standards on Nursing Home Feeding (10/06/2003)
The Bush administration recently eased nursing home standards to allow workers with just one day of training help residents eat and drink. Previously, only licensed health care professionals or certified nurse aides were permitted to perform such duties.

House Votes to Block Bush Plan to Cut Overtime Pay (10/06/2003)
Reversing course, the House recently voted 221-203 to block changes proposed by the Bush administration that would strip millions of workers of eligibility for overtime pay. The House narrowly defeated a similar amendment in July by a vote of 213-210, but this time around Democrats picked up eight new Republican votes.

Committee Report Finds No EPA Fault After 9/11 (10/06/2003)
A Senate Environment and Public Works Committee report released Sept. 23 claims the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the White House did not act inappropriately in addressing public health concerns in New York City after 9/11. The committee’s report sharply contrasts an Aug. 22 EPA Inspector General’s report that revealed EPA altered press releases to falsely reassure the public because of pressure from the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ).

Industry Pushing for TRI Reporting Changes (10/06/2003)
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is facing increased pressure on at least two fronts to alter reporting requirements under the Toxic Release Inventory Program (TRI) for mining operations and facilities that manufacture or use lead.

Journalists Decry Ashcroft's Closed Door Speeches (10/06/2003)
U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft has limited his exposure to journalists' questions during his around-the-country speaking tour to respond to growing public concerns about the Patriot Act.

Ashcroft Declassifies Use of a Patriot Act Power (10/06/2003)
In recognition of growing public distrust of the government's expanded powers under the Patriot Act, Attorney General John Ashcroft announced that the Justice Department has not used Section 215 of the Patriot Act.

Job Announcement: Coordinator of Right-to-Know Coalition for Journalists (10/06/2003)
A new coalition of journalism organizations is hiring a coordinator to help advance freedom-of-information issues. Applications must be submitted by October 15, 2003.

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