All Articles from OMB Watch

 

Transparency is a powerful tool to demonstrate to the public that the government is spending our money wisely, that government is operating in an accountable manner, and that decisions are made to ensure the safety and protection of all Americans.  OMB Watch tracks and analyzes policies that affect the public's right to know and works to improve them. Our goal is to increase the quality of, access to, and use of government information.


 

OMB Watch strives to encourage and expand the rights of nonprofit organizations to engage in public policy advocacy and nonpartisan voter engagement efforts. Today more than ever, advocacy has to be seen as a civic responsibility, since nonprofits are often the vehicles of social change. The essential First Amendment rights of free speech are the cornerstone of our commitment to 501(c)(3) organizations.

 

 

Internship Announcement: Coalition and Outreach Intern, Coalition for Sensible Safeguards

The Coalition for Sensible Safeguards (CSS) is seeking an outreach intern. CSS is an alliance of over 70 organizations: from environmental, labor, and consumer advocacy organizations to research, policy, and community organizing groups. The coalition is joined in the belief that our country’s system of regulatory safeguards (clean air and water laws, worker safety laws, laws regulating Wall Street) provides a stable framework that secures our quality of life and paves the way for a sound economy that benefits us all.

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Keystone Pipeline Derailed – For Now

On Jan. 18, President Obama rejected the permit for the controversial Keystone XL pipeline project, which was sought by Canadian firm TransCanada and Big Oil interests. The Obama administration determined that more study was needed to see whether the project was in the long-term national interest of the United States. Communities along the proposed pipeline route that are concerned about public health and safety issues welcomed the administration's decision, even as Republican lawmakers vowed to continue fighting for the project.

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Third-Party Audits Aren't a Panacea for Increasing Safety

The third-party audit system, in which private companies take over responsibility for inspecting worksites and production facilities, has been shown to expose Americans to significant health and safety risks while eating, working, and breathing.

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Peering Behind the Curtain: Consumer Protection Agency Proposes Public Credit Card Complaint Database

In December, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) proposed a public online database of consumer complaints about credit cards. The database would empower consumer choices on credit cards and position the agency as a leader in government transparency. However, the financial industry opposes disclosure and may use its considerable political influence in an effort to block public access to the information.

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Jobs Council Misses the Mark, Offers Unbalanced Proposals that Could Undermine Public Protections

President Obama's Council on Jobs and Competitiveness (Jobs Council) recently released its 2011 year-end report, Road Map to Renewal. The report comes one year after Obama tasked the Jobs Council with developing "a set of recommendations to create jobs in the short run and improve our nation's competitiveness over the long term." The report includes recommendations on tax reform, manufacturing, energy, innovation, education, and regulation and has been widely criticized for offering a one-sided "corporate" agenda. While the Jobs Council wrote that "getting the regulatory balance right is important," its proposals on regulatory "reform" narrowly favor corporate interests. The proposals, which mischaracterize the important role of regulation in protecting the American people, will not generate jobs or increase American competitiveness.

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The State of the Nation's Budget

The state of the nation's budget can be summarized in one word: underutilized. The economy is still clawing its way back from the worst recession since the Great Depression, but Congress voted to drastically scale back federal spending in 2011 instead of investing in initiatives to spur demand. As President Obama prepares to give his annual State of the Union speech later tonight (Jan. 24), we hope he will argue that in the short run, the federal government should do more, rather than less, to create demand in the economy and leave deficit reduction to 2013 and beyond.

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New Report: U.S. Muslim Charities and the War on Terror

In December 2011, CSN published a new report, U.S. Muslim Charities and the War on Terror: A Decade in Review. It summarizes the shutdown of Muslim charities and subsequent lawsuits filed against the government. It also looks at cases of intrusive government actions, such as surveillance of Muslim communities and Islamophobic congressional hearings. Finally, the report gives an overview of how the civil society sector has responded to government scrutiny through interfaith dialogues, education initiatives and partnerships with law enforcement agencies.

For more information, visit www.charityandsecurity.org!

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