Publications :  The Watcher :  OMB Watcher Vol. 5: 2004 :  November 16, 2004 Vol.5, No.23 : 

In This Issue

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Lame-Duck Work Begins This Week (11/15/2004)
Today, Nov. 16, the 535 members of the 108th Congress reconvened to begin a post-election lame-duck session and complete their unfinished business. Their goal is to keep the session short and productive, yet this may be difficult as Republican leaders have failed to reach an agreement with the White House on a package that could bring the fiscal 2005 appropriations process to a quick conclusion.

Opposition Seen on Second Term Tax, Social Security Goals (11/15/2004)
With the election two weeks behind us, attention has shifted to what this administration plans to do in its second term. President Bush has specifically cited two major objectives: to make his tax cuts permanent, and to make significant changes in both the federal tax code and Social Security.

Florida, Nevada Vote to Raise Minimum Wage by $1 (11/15/2004)
Although both states went to President Bush on Nov. 2, voters in Florida and Nevada approved state initiatives significantly raising the minimum wage by one whole dollar.

Nuclear Commission Restores Portions of Online Library (11/15/2004)
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) restored portions of its online reading room earlier this month shortly after security concerns prompted the agency to block public access. Only selected documents have been restored, although NRC asserts that the majority will be accessible within several weeks.

California Passes Prop. 59 in Win for Open Government (11/15/2004)
California citizens passed a new open government proposal on Nov. 2 that embeds requirements for open records and meetings into the state constitution. The measure, Proposition 59, passed with 83 percent supporting it.

Minnesota Legislature Restricts Media Access to Polling Sites (11/15/2004)
The Minnesota Legislature passed a law that greatly restricts media access to polling sites on election days. The law passed with bipartisan support just hours before the close of the 2004 legislative session. The law has been widely regarded as a "housekeeping" elections bill for Minnesota Secretary of State Mary Kiffmeyer, who requested the restrictions.

Halliburton Whistleblower Cut Out of Contract Procedures (11/15/2004)
The Army Corps of Engineers violated procurement rules in negotiating its contract with the Halliburton Corporation in early 2003, according to the Corps's chief contracting officer -- Bunnatine Greenhouse. She asserts that after expressing numerous objections to Halliburton contracts, she was threatened with demotion and was pressured to approve the contracts by her superior.

Terrorism Case Whistleblower Sues Justice Department (11/15/2004)
Former Justice Department lawyer Jesselyn Radack filed a lawsuit Oct. 28, claiming that the Department of Justice (DOJ) forced her out after she raised objections over the interrogation of "American Taliban" John Walker Lindh.

Nonprofits' Suit Opposes CFC Terrorist Watch List Policy (11/15/2004)
OMB Watch and 12 other nonprofits filed suit against the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) on Nov. 10, challenging their policy that requires participating charities to check their employees' names against government terrorist watch lists. The complaint, filed in the federal district court for the District of Columbia, charges the policy violates the First Amendment rights of participating charities and was made illegally in secret.

Nonprofits Came Out in Force This Election Season (11/15/2004)
Nonprofits across the spectrum came out this election season to help voters have a voice. As a result, the United States had a voter turnout of almost 60 percent, the highest since 1968. This election proved nonprofits can "help America vote."

Muslim Charity Seeks Release of Frozen Assets (11/15/2004)
Last month, the Department of Treasury froze the assets of the Islamic American Relief Agency (IARA-USA) after a raid on its office in Columbia, MO, and the home of its executive director. Last week, Shereef Akeel, a lawyer for the Muslim charity, applied for a license from the U.S. Treasury Department to free its frozen assets for the purpose of paying rent and utility bills.

IRS Revises Application for Tax-Exempt Status for Charities, 501(c)(3) Groups (11/15/2004)
The IRS has released an updated version of the application for tax-exempt status for charitable, education, religious and scientific organizations. The new Form 1023 and instructions are available on the Web, and the IRS will require their use after April, 2005. Page ten of the instructions describes the prohibition on partisan electioneering and the allowable legislative lobbying limits. A copy of Form 5768, the notice that a group will measure its lobbying by expenditures only, is included in the package. For more information see IRS Frequently Asked Questions About Revised Form 1023 on its website.

Americans Vote to Protect Environment in Ballot Initiatives (11/15/2004)
Voters approved ballot measures on Nov. 2 that will strengthen environmental protections in several states.

NPS Fails to Address Species Impacts of Snowmobile Trails (11/15/2004)
In the aftermath of two court rulings rejecting rulemakings on winter use plans for Yellowstone, the National Park Service is once again being challenged in court for failing to consider the effects on bison populations of winter use plans that accommodate snowmobile use.

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