Treasury Releases Third Version of Anti-Terrorist Financing Guidelines

On Sept. 29, 2006 the U.S. Department of the Treasury released the third version since 2002 of its Anti-Terrorist Financing Guidelines: Voluntary Best Practices for U.S.-Based Charities. The new Guidelines come after Treasury requested public comments on the Dec. 2005 revision of the original Guidelines. In an annex to the latest version, Treasury provides an unconvincing explanation of its perception that abuse of charities by terrorists is a substantial problem. Treasury also uses the latest version to place greater emphasis on the voluntary nature of the guidelines. However, the fundamental problems that lead the nonprofit sector to call for withdrawal of the Guidelines remain unchanged.

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OMB Watch Launches FedSpending.org

For the first time, itemized information on the more than $12 trillion disbursed by the federal government between FY 2000 and FY 2005 is now available to the public on a user-friendly, searchable Web site. FedSpending.org, a project of OMB Watch launched Oct. 10, provides citizens with a detailed look at how the government sets national priorities and allocates federal resources.

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OMB Watch and The Center for Responsive Politics Unveil Federal Spending Oversight Tools

Washington, D.C., Oct. 10 - At a press club event today, government watchdog groups unveiled powerful new online tools developed to help the public track government spending and congressional conduct.

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MEDIA ADVISORY: Launch of Powerful Tools for Government Oversight

Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2006 at 9:30 a.m.
OMB Watch and The Center for Responsive Politics Web-based Tools Allow Reporters to Track Federal Spending, Congressional Conflicts, Junkets and the Revolving Door

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INVITE

Join Us Oct. 10, as OMB Watch and the Center for Responsive Politics Draw the Curtain Back on Federal Spending and Congressional Conduct!

Do you want to make the most informed decisions possible on Election Day? Do you want to see which programs and agencies get the most federal dollars? How about which contractors or congressional districts?

We're unveiling a tool that will help you do just that.

Join us for what will be an extraordinary moment for good, accountable government. Participate in a live webcast on Oct. 10, 2006, 9:30 a.m.

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Law Meant to Regulate 'Sham' Issue Ads Instead Silences Citizens Groups

Statement of AFL-CIO, Chamber of Commerce, National Education Association and OMB Watch
Sept. 8, 2006 marked the beginning of a 60-day blackout period for broadcasts that mention federal candidates, even if the broadcasts are wholly unrelated to the election. As organizations deeply concerned with public policy issues, we condemn this clampdown on free speech.

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The Cost Is Too High: How Susan Dudley Threatens Public Protections

Dudley - the cost is too high By nominating Susan Dudley to serve as White House regulatory czar, the Bush administration has signaled that it is shifting from siege to all-out war on the public's protections. Dudley is unfit to serve in this important role. Find out why in this special report from OMB Watch and Public Citizen, The Cost Is Too High: How Susan Dudley Threatens Public Protections.


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Nonprofits Should Be Encouraged by IRS Decision to Drop NAACP Case

OMB Watch Statement on End of IRS Investigation of NAACP
Today the NAACP announced that the IRS has found that it did not violate the ban on partisan electioneering for charitable groups when its chairman, Julian Bond, criticized several Bush administration policies during a speech given at its 2004 national convention. OMB Watch is encouraged by the outcome and believes now is the time to examine the IRS procedures that led to the controversial case.

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FEC Decision Is a Blow to Civic Participation

Statement on FEC's Failure to Consider Grassroots Lobbying Exemption
The public deserves consideration of the merits of proposals to protect grassroots lobbying. Today, that discussion was blocked, and it was a loss for civic participation and grassroots involvement in democracy.

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Comments on OMB's Proposed Risk Assessment Bulletin

Download comments submitted jointly by OMB Watch and Public Citizen

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Bio: Susan Dudley

Susan Dudley was nominated by President Bush to serve as the administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs in July of 2006. Before that time, she directed the Regulatory Studies Program of the Mercatus Center at George Mason University from 2003 until 2006. Pending her appointment, Dudley continues her work at Mercatus as a Distinguished Senior Scholar.

Dudley has taught at the George Mason University School of Law since 2002. From 2003-2004, she taught at Georgetown University through the Fund for American Studies.

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Despite Short-Term Gains, CBO Forecasts Grim Long-Term Fiscal Outlook

On Aug. 17, The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released the annual summer update to its Budget and Economic Outlook report. In it, CBO lowers its estimate of the Fiscal Year 2006 budget deficit by 30 percent from its March analysis and now projects the year-end deficit at $260 billion. The rosy news, however, did little to assuage analysts' concerns over fiscal challenges looming on the horizon.

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Presentation to NAS Panel on OMB Proposed Risk Assessment Bulletin

Download slide presentation by J. Robert Shull to May 2006 meeting of the NAS panel convened to peer review the Proposed Risk Assessment Bulletin.

Get to Know Susan Dudley

In the coming weeks, we will post more straight from Dudley herself. For now, check out this sampler of her positions on important public protections.

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What Mercatus Doesn't Want You to Know

The Mercatus Center website has a listing of Dudley's work -- but that listing has recently been revised, and now some of Dudley's comments, testimony, and other materials are gone.

UPDATE: Mercatus has silently restored the missing documents, and added more, to Dudley's profile page. Aug. 10, 2006

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Contracts and Grants Disclosure Bill Fast-Tracked

The Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs unanimously passed the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (S. 2590) on Aug. 8. The bill would create a searchable website that provides information about all federal spending, including government contracts and grants. Following the quick committee action, Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME) and Joseph Lieberman (D-CT), the committee's chair and ranking member respectively, jointly requested that the bill be fast-tracked and brought to the Senate floor for a unanimous consent vote. Unfortunately, time ran out for the unanimous consent request to reach the floor before the August recess.

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Sunset Legislation Delayed Until September

In a sign that public pressure from concerned citizens works, the two sunset commission bills in the House scheduled for floor votes the week before August recess were both delayed until September.

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Senate Defeats Estate Tax Giveaway...Yet Again

The Senate voted last week to reject a tax and wage package dubbed the "trifecta" that would have slashed the estate tax permanently, increased the minimum wage modestly, and extended a broad set of tax breaks. The bill, passed by the House last month, also contained a number of "sweeteners" to entice targeted senators to vote for the bill.

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