Publications :  The Watcher :  OMB Watcher Vol. 5: 2004 :  August 23, 2004 Vol.5, No.17 : 

In This Issue

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Economy and Jobs Watch: Tax Cuts Go Mostly to the Rich (08/23/2004)
The Congressional Budget Office has released a new study detailing the impact of recent tax changes on various income levels. The bottom line: The very, very wealthy made out very, very well.

Recent Data Shows Decline in Nonprofit Employment, Earnings (08/23/2004)
On August 19, OMB Watch released a new report, "Recent Trends in Nonprofit Employment and Earnings: 1990-2004," which examines the recent history of employment and compensation trends in the nonprofit sector. It found that while growth in nonprofit employment continued during the 2001 recession and immediately after, it stalled over the past year, with significant declines in average hours worked, weekly earnings, and hourly wages. Data on individual states reflect this nationwide pattern.

Watch for August 26 Release of Poverty, Income Statistics (08/23/2004)
This week, the U.S. Census Bureau will release its latest statistics on income, poverty and health insurance coverage, a month earlier than usual. It will show the 2003 poverty rate, household income information, and the percentage of Americans who are uninsured using the Census Bureau's "Current Population Survey" (CPS).

Right-To-Know Resource Center Gives News Context (08/23/2004)
The Right-To-Know Resource Center provides critical resources on news of the day. Geared for reporters and other advocates who need background information on a timely issue, the Resource Center provides the context for understanding current events.

Secrecy Law Raised in Albany Terrorism Case (08/23/2004)
The U.S. attorney's office invoked the rarely used Classified Information Procedures Act (CIPA) to limit the amount of information disclosed in a case against two men arrested in Albany, N.Y. This comes on the same day media sources revealed that the document the FBI used to link one of the men to terrorists was incorrectly translated.

Coalition Files FOIA Suit Against Homeland Security (08/23/2004)
A coalition of Illinois organizations filed a lawsuit under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Aug. 17 against the Department of Homeland Security to obtain information about discriminatory activities post 9/11. DHS never responded to the original FOIA request.

Justice Punishes Employees Who Cooperate with Congress (08/23/2004)
Senator Charles Grassley (R-IA), has written several stern letters to Attorney General John Ashcroft accusing the Justice Department of punishing employees that have cooperated with Congress.

Lawmakers Attack Science of Endangered Species Act (08/23/2004)
Conservative lawmakers are using peer review and data quality language to obscure what amounts to an attack on the Endangered Species Act. Two new bills would require the Fish and Wildlife Service to establish minimum criteria for scientific studies used as the basis for listing species, and to conduct restrictive independent peer reviews on all data used.

Officials Seek Exemptions to Arkansas Access Law (08/23/2004)
City of Fort Smith officials are seeking to change Arkansas' state Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) after they were caught violating the law by having secret discussions about a real estate purchase.

FEC Adopts Rule to Control 527 Political Groups (08/23/2004)
On August 19, the Federal Election Commission (FEC) adopted a new rule to control nonparty political organizations by making it more difficult for certain independent organizations -- known as 527 groups -- to raise and spend donations in the 2006 election.

Bush Pushes Faith-Based Initiative Without New Authority (08/23/2004)
The absence of new legislative authority has not deterred the Bush administration from using its executive powers to widely implement its Faith-Based Initiative throughout the federal government. That is the finding of a new report by the Roundtable on Religion and Social Welfare Policy documents.

Regulatory News Briefs (08/23/2004)

• GAO Report Finds OSHA Underuses Audit System
• Bush Policies Leave Wetlands Open for Development
• Superfund Super Broke?

Snowmobiles Allowed in Yellowstone Despite Court Loss (08/23/2004)
The National Park Service (NPS) has announced that it will allow up to 720 snowmobiles per day in Yellowstone, beginning this coming winter, while it works on a final rule on that matter.

Bush Contributor to Benefit from Weaker Hazardous Waste Rule (08/23/2004)
A top Bush campaign contributor could benefit from an EPA decision to weaken a Clinton-era proposal to restrict handling of certain hazardous wastes.

Kennedy Calls for OSHA Accountability in Letter to Chao (08/23/2004)
Senator Edward Kennedy, Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, sent a letter to Department of Labor Secretary Elaine Chao on August 18 expressing his concern over the lack of "development and enforcement of health and safety regulation."

White House Overrides Forest Service, Allows Gas Project (08/23/2004)
White House officials have overridden a decision by the U.S. Forest Service to deny a Texas energy company's request to explore for natural gas in a national forest, according to correspondence uncovered by the Los Angeles Times.

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