Publications :  The Watcher :  OMB Watcher Vol. 6: 2005 :  May 16, 2005 Vol.6, No.10 : 

In This Issue

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Congress Passes Supplemental War Funding Bill (05/16/2005)
President Bush signed an $82-billion emergency war funding supplemental into law on May 11, one day after the bill received Senate approval. The Senate voted unanimously for passage despite some questionable provisions. And with the ink barely dry on the emergency fiscal year 2005 (FY05) supplemental, House appropriators are already discussing the next round of war funding, which the Pentagon may request as early as August.

President's Tax Panel Hosts Two-Day Meeting on Reform Proposals (05/16/2005)
The President's Advisory Panel on Tax Reform met May 11 and 12 to discuss specific proposals, which had been publicly submitted to the panel during a brief comment period, for reforming the federal tax code. The two-day hearing covered some of the plans submitted and heard testimony from a number of tax experts and advocates. Notably, the panel expressed overwhelming skepticism regarding proposals that would fully repeal the federal income tax in favor of a national sales tax or other system.

Update: More States Consider 'Taxpayer's Bill of Rights' (05/16/2005)
In 1992, Colorado passed a constitutional amendment instituting a "taxpayer's bill of rights" (TABOR) in order to make it more difficult for the state to increase taxes during the good times and spend during the bad times. Although Colorado's TABOR law has resulted in a structural cycle of drastic disinvestment in public services, many other states have either considered enacting tax and expenditure limiting legislation (TELS) in 2005 or will likely consider it in 2006.

Appeals Court Overturns D.C. Hazmat Ban (05/16/2005)
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia ruled against Washington, DC (D.C.), on its law requiring that shipment of hazardous chemicals be rerouted around the nation's capital. The three-judge panel released its unanimous opinion May 3, overturning a lower court's decision to uphold the ban. The city may either appeal the panel's opinion to the full appeals court or return to the lower court for a hearing on the law.

Cheney Task Force Documents to Remain Secret, Judge Dismisses Lawsuit (05/16/2005)
A federal appeals court judge dismissed a lawsuit May 10, which sought to uncover secret documents from Vice President Cheney's energy task force. The judge ruled the task force was not subject to the disclosure requirements of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA).

House Hears Changes Needed to Improve Freedom of Information Act (05/16/2005)
The House got a bipartisan earful last week about the need to address the growing problem of secrecy in government. At a hearing May 11 on putting teeth into the Freedom of Information Act, witnesses testified about how FOIA is becoming increasingly weaker in meeting public needs. On the same day, Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA) announced he would reintroduce a bill to strengthen government transparency, addressing issues beyond FOIA.

House Members to Offer Bill to Expand Lobbying Disclosure (05/16/2005)
In the wake of allegations of violations of House rules, particularly about lobbyists paying for congressional travel by Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-TX), two Democrats plan to introduce a bill to increase disclosure of federal lobbying and tighten other rules affecting the influence of lobbyists. At the same time, Republicans announced their own plans aimed at tightening and enforcing House ethics rules. However, the Democrats' bill appears to have picked up steam when House Administration Committee Chairman Robert Ney (R-OH) expressed interest in crafting a bipartisan approach to reform.

North Carolina Preacher Accused of Church Politicking Resigns (05/16/2005)
On May 5, nine members of the East Waynesville Baptist Church in North Carolina were excommunicated by their pastor for voting for former Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry. The pastor, Rev. Chan Chandler, allegedly told his congregants that voting for Kerry was against the tenets of the church. The pastor has since resigned from his position. There has been no information whether the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is looking into the allegations of wrong-doing, although Americans United for Separation of Church and State has requested an investigation.

Conservative Coalition Opposes Further Nonprofit Regulation (05/16/2005)
On April 28, a coalition of conservative groups sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) objecting to the Senate Finance Committee's effort to tighten rules governing charities. Shortly after that, the Independent Sector Panel on the Nonprofit Sector released its second set of draft regulations for review and comment by the sector.

Homeland Security Wins Power to Waive All Law (05/16/2005)
A stroke of the pen makes it final: President Bush signed into law the Iraq war supplemental, which includes a controversial provision giving the secretary of homeland security the power to waive all law when securing U.S. borders.

Bush Allows Governors to Challenge Roadless Rule (05/16/2005)
In yet another attack on our nation's wildlife, the Forest Service published a final rule May 13 that will allow governors to petition for changes to state forest management plans, effectively undoing the Clinton-era forest regulations known as the "roadless rule."

House Hearing Reveals Unethical Marketing of Vioxx (05/16/2005)
During a congressional hearing on May 5, the House Government Reform Committee harshly criticized both the Food and Drug Administration and drug makers for their role in approving and marketing Vioxx, an arthritis painkiller linked to heart disease.

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