Publications :  The Watcher :  OMB Watcher Vol. 8: 2007 :  June 12, 2007 Vol. 8, No. 12 : 

In This Issue

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Democratic Disarray on Greenhouse Gases May Let Bush off the Hook (06/12/2007)
Two House Democrats are circulating a draft of legislation that, if passed, would effectively implement the position the Bush administration held regarding greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions prior to a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling. The legislation threatens to create enough disarray among Democrats that the hope for progress on GHGs generated by the court decision and the 2006 elections could be dashed.

White House Meets with Industry on Smog Standard (06/12/2007)
The White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) is reviewing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) revision to the national ozone standard. A number of scientists have urged EPA to adopt a more stringent standard for ozone, also known as smog. Unusually, Vice President Dick Cheney's office has involved itself in the review of the standard. OIRA has also been consulting with industry representatives as it prepares to make edits to the standard and make recommendations to EPA.

Long-delayed EPA Risk Assessment of Endocrine Disruptors Exhibits Flaws (06/12/2007)
In its ninth year of work on the issue, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is about to begin the risk assessment process for an important but little-known group of chemicals called endocrine disruptors. However, scientists are concerned early indications of the assessment's construction will produce scientifically suspect results.

Appropriations Season Kicks Off (06/12/2007)
Congress shifted into full appropriations mode the week of June 4 as both the House and Senate began subcommittee markups of the twelve individual appropriations bills. As the White House and congressional Democrats continue to trade barbs about potential vetoes of spending bills above President Bush's request, the House is scheduled to consider its first four appropriations bills on the floor this week — all of which exceed the president's requested spending levels. Democrats are hoping to pass all appropriations bills before October 1, the start of the new fiscal year, a feat not accomplished since 1994 — the last year Democrats controlled both chambers of Congress.

Congress Still Struggling to Settle Earmark Disclosure Procedures (06/12/2007)
Five months after the House adopted institutional earmark reform rules (H. Res. 6) and the Senate passed statutory requirements governing earmark disclosure (S. 1), confusion reigns in both chambers on how earmark disclosure rules will work and who will administer them. Key members of the Senate and House Appropriations Committees have unilaterally altered the rules in the intervening months, and even with appropriations season upon us, it appears the disclosure rules and their application remain in flux.

Senate Committee Considers Bill to Criminalize Deceptive Election Practices (06/12/2007)
The Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing June 7 on a bill that would criminalize deceptive election practices. The Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Act of 2007 (S. 453) is cosponsored by Sens. Barack Obama (D-IL) and Charles Schumer (D-NY). It would make it illegal to purposefully misinform or confuse voters about an upcoming election. The House Judiciary Committee already approved a companion bill (H.R. 1281) in March. The bill, should it become law, would give nonprofit organizations that monitor elections new tools to combat voter suppression and intimidation.

Charities Respond to Treasury's Overbroad Allegations of Terrorist Ties (06/12/2007)
On June 8, charities wrote to the Secretary of the Department of Treasury, Henry Paulson, to express their concern about continuing statements from Treasury that allege charities are a significant source of terrorist financing. The letter was sparked by a report from the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) published in late May that claimed charities are a "significant source of alleged terrorist activities." The charities' letter calls upon Treasury to retract this claim, saying, "Treasury needs to recognize that charities are part of the solution and not part of the problem."

IRS Reports on 2006 Political Activities Enforcement Program, Releases Guidance (06/12/2007)
On June 8, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) released a report on the initial results of its 2006 program enforcing the ban on partisan electioneering by charities and religious organizations. The same day, it also released Revenue Ruling 2007-41, which provides guidance nonprofits can rely on in planning permissible voter education and mobilization activity. The results of the enforcement program to date show a continued low level of violations.

New Complaints to the IRS about Political Intervention (06/12/2007)
In late May, news surfaced of an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) inquiry into a Wichita, KS, church, Spirit One Christian Center. Another new complaint, against Bill Keller Ministries, also was made public. Both cases involve statements about candidates that are alleged to indicate opposition to their election.

The Department of Homeland Security's Dangerous Pattern (06/12/2007)
On June 5, Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS), chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, wrote an op-ed in The Hill criticizing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for the hasty development of ineffective programs. Thompson cites DHS's failed efforts to implement an integrated information-sharing network, but, as he notes, this is merely one of many examples of misplaced priorities and ineffective leadership at DHS. The Department's attempt to build a robust chemical security program could serve as another example.

Kyl Unveiled as FOIA Foiler (06/12/2007)
Shortly after supporters of the Openness Promotes Effectiveness in Our National (OPEN) Government Act began aggressive online and telephone campaigns to discover the senator who had placed an anonymous hold on the bill, Sen. Jon Kyl (R-AZ) acknowledged that he was blocking the legislation. Kyl explained that the move was at the behest of the Department of Justice (DOJ), which he explained had "uncharacteristically strong objections to the bill."

Restored EPA Budget Holds Hope for Libraries and Labs (06/12/2007)
On June 7, the House Appropriations Committee approved a $27.6 billion Interior-Environment spending bill that increases the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) FY 2008 budget to $8.1 billion, a $361 million increase over current spending. It is also $887 million more than President Bush's budget request, which will likely trigger a veto threat.

NASA Inspector General Faces Tough Questioning from Congress (06/12/2007)
On June 7, the Senate and House held a joint hearing to investigate the conduct of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) Inspector General, Robert Cobb. The hearing was conducted by the House Science and Technology Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight and the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Subcommittee on Space, Aeronautics and Related Matters. Questions raised during the hearing concerned issues including the inspector general's alleged manipulation and interference with investigations, creation of a hostile environment for whistleblowers, and the destruction of records.

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