OMB Watch | Promoting open government, accountability, and citizen participation since 1983

The Watcher: December 15, 2003

Vol. 4, No. 25 PDF Version

Fiscal Stewardship

The Omnibus Spending Bill and the Budget Process

A Call to Action! A Long-Term Tax and Budget Plan

The Bush Tax

Economy and Jobs Watch: Employment and Output Data

Government Openness

Another Lawsuit Filed Under the Data Quality Act

States File FOIA Request for Clean Air Act Information

OMB Watch Submits Comments on Peer Review Today

Missouri and Kansas Proposing New Sunshine Law Exemptions

Meet and Comment on EPA's Draft Report on the Environment

Documents Destroyed in Terrorism Case

Protecting the Public

Bush Administration to Ease Mercury Controls

Enforcement of Environmental Laws Lagging Under Bush Administration

Administration Eases Rules for Endangered Species Consultation for Forest Projects

Protecting Nonprofit Rights

Istook Strikes Back - Another Attack on Nonprofit Speech

IRS Says E-Filing for Form 990 Ready for 2004 Filing Season

IRS Must Disclose Determinations of Tax-Exempt Status

Update on Faith-Based Initiative

In Honor of Bill of Rights Day: A look at the First Amendment

GAO Issues Report on Terrorist Financing

Rep. Serrano Urges Congress to Drop Restriction on Legal Services

OMB Watch Asks OMB To Deny HHS Request to Survey Head Start Grantees

The Watcher: December 2, 2003

Vol. 4, No. 24 PDF Version

Fiscal Stewardship

Economy and Jobs Watch: Consumer Debt Increases, Savings Rate Down

Congress' Unfinished Business

Government Openness

Kansas to Review Open Record Exemptions

Representatives Increase Efforts to put Congressional Research Reports Online

Workshop Reveals Flaws in Peer Review Bulletin

Protecting the Public

Bush Administration Considers Relaxing Rules for Radioactive Waste

Federal Judge Rebukes Bush Administration's Hard-Rock Mining Rules

Congress Clears Way for Logging, Offers Little Help to Fire-Prone Communities

Congress Drops Block on Bush Overtime Proposal, Strikes Deal on Media Ownership

Protecting Nonprofit Rights

IRS Requests for Comments on Exempt Organizations Filing Requirements

Tougher Restriction on Funds Limits Equal Access to Civil Justice

Senate Judiciary Committee Holds Hearing on PATRIOT Act

FEC Begins Implementing Ban on Electioneering Communications

House Committee Seeks Info on Election Activities of Nonprofits

CARE Act Update

The Watcher: November 17, 2003

Vol. 4, No. 23 PDF Version

Fiscal Stewardship

Appropriations, the Only Legislation Congress Must Pass Every Year

Internet Tax Moratorium Expires

Spending Cuts? What Spending Cuts?

Report from the Treasury Department "Death Tax" Roundtable

Economy and Jobs Watch: Taking the Long View

Economy and Jobs Watch: Employment Positive, But Still Weak

Government Openness

White House Grants Limited Access to 9/11 Information

Proposals to Lighten TRI Burden Likely to Reduce Information

FOI Advocates Get Mixed Results from Defense Authorization Bill

High Court Asked to Lift Secrecy in Habeas Corpus Proceedings

Energy Provision Helps Whistleblowers

Data Quality Lawsuit Settled Out of Court

EPA Sheltering Information Under Gag Order

Protecting the Public

Toxic Waste Cleanups Decline

Administration Halts Investigations of Clean Air Violations

Protecting Nonprofit Rights

Church Electioneering Bill Gains Opposition

Contrary to Bush's Belief: Faith-based Organizations are Not Better Social Service Providers

Restrictions Lifted on Cooperative Nonprofit Mailings

HHS Proposes Survey of Head Start Salaries

New Developments on Nonprofit Issues

House Members Object to Conservation Measure in CARE Act

Greenpeace under Ashcroft Attack

The Watcher: November 3, 2003

Vol. 4, No. 22 PDF Version

Fiscal Stewardship

Kyl Still Pushing for Permanent Estate Tax Repeal

Appropriations Still in Knots

Congress Moves to Fund Efforts in Iraq & Afghanistan

Congress Slow to Extend Unemployment Benefits

Economy and Jobs Watch: GDP Update

Government Openness

NAS Holds Workshop on OMB Peer Review Standards

Proposed ExxonMobil Plant to Test New Restrictions on Information

Protecting the Public

GAO Finds OMB Regulatory Review Not Well Documented

Administration Challenged on Clean Air Rollback

Protecting Nonprofit Rights

CARE Act Stalled Again

FEC Seeks Exemption from Do-Not-Fax Rules for PACs and Political Parties

Scientists Threatened with ?Ideological Shackles?

Comments Filed on Proposed Charitable Choice Rules for Veterans Administration

The Watcher: October 20, 2003

Vol. 4, No. 21 PDF Version

Fiscal Stewardship

JOB WATCH

Internet Taxation and the State Fiscal Picture

Passage of the CARE Act Remains Uncertain

OMB Watch Goes on the Road with a State-by-State Analysis of the Estate Tax and Charitable Giving

Appropriations and Emergency Supplemental

Government Openness

Ideas Wanted for 10 Most Wanted Government Docs

A Larger Sunset Proposed for Patriot Act

State Tour Scheduled for EPA's Draft Report on the Environment

Scientists Advise Self-Censorship

Ohio Bill Prohibits Access to Health Information

EPA Releases Final ECHO Database

Texas Attorney General's Ruling Undermines Public Access

Pentagon Puts Public Papers Back Online

Supreme Court Is Asked to Hear a Case on Government Secrecy

Protecting the Public

Administration Lifts Restrictions for Dumping Mining Waste

Whistleblower Says OSHA Blocked Testing of Inspectors Exposed to Toxic Metal

Administration Issues Watered-Down Food Import Rules

Protecting Nonprofit Rights

New Resources Can Help Nonprofits Get Out the Vote

FEC Says Donor Lists Cannot be Used for Sending Educational Materials

The Watcher: October 6, 2003

Vol. 4, No. 20 PDF Version

Fiscal Stewardship

The Deficit As a Serious Problem

Jobs Picture Still Not Looking Good

Government Openness

Job Announcement: Coordinator of Right-to-Know Coalition for Journalists

Ashcroft Declassifies Use of a Patriot Act Power

Journalists Decry Ashcroft's Closed Door Speeches

Industry Pushing for TRI Reporting Changes

Committee Report Finds No EPA Fault After 9/11

CEI Fluffs Up Data Quality Lawsuit

Protecting the Public

House Votes to Block Bush Plan to Cut Overtime Pay

Administration Relaxes Standards on Nursing Home Feeding

Protecting Nonprofit Rights

Workforce Investment Act Passes through Senate Committee Without Religious Discrimination Provision

International NGOs are Gagged From Saving Lives

Offsets, Child Tax Credit Make CARE Act Fate Uncertain

Suit Challenges Secret Service Protest Zones

Despite Efforts to Delay, DUNS Number Requirement Goes into Effect

Six Agencies Act on Faith-Based Regulations

The Watcher: September 22, 2003

Vol. 4, No. 19 PDF Version

Fiscal Stewardship

Economy and Jobs Watch: Political Business Cycle?

APPROPRIATIONS UPDATE - MISSING THE DEADLINE AGAIN

Americans are Worried about the President and his $87 Billion Request for Iraq

Internet Tax Bites the Dust in the House

Digging Ourselves out of the $7 Trillion National Debt

State and Local Finance Data Disappears

Government Openness

Administration Hid Number of Detainees in Iraq

Ashcroft Budges Slightly on Patriot Act Secrecy

GAO Report Indicates Less FOIA Information Under Ashcroft

DHS CII Docket Published, Not User-Friendly

Protecting the Public

Senate Votes to Block Overtime Changes Despite Veto Threat

Senate Votes to Repeal FCC Media Ownership Rules

Agencies Slow to Implement Environmental Justice Order

OMB Finalizes Changes to Regulatory Decision-Making

Protecting Nonprofit Rights

Soft Electioneering vs. Issue Advocacy: Where is the Line?

OMB Asks for Comments on Proposed Changes to Audit Form

Charitable Giving Bills Headed to Conference Committee

The Watcher: September 8, 2003

Vol. 4, No. 18 PDF Version

Fiscal Stewardship

Economy and Jobs Watch: Employment Outlook

Cost of the War

A Guide to Block Grant Proposals

Appropriations Update

Poverty is Growing in the United States

Economy and Jobs Watch: Deficit Outlook

Government Openness

Senators and Past Administrator Speak Out on EPA Response to 9/11

Industry and Nonprofits Divided In Support for Proposed CII Rule

Agencies Cite Privacy More Often When Denying FOIA Requests

Administration Secrecy Obstructs GAO Energy Inquiry

Protecting the Public

Administration Refuses to Act on Greenhouse Gases from Automobiles

Administration Relaxes Emergency Room Standards

EPA Allows Sales of PCB-Contaminated Sites

Administration Moves to Allow Snowmobiles in National Parks

EPA Rolls Back Clean Air Standards for Power Plants

Protecting Nonprofit Rights

100 Hours of Continuous Testimony to Save AmeriCorps

NPAction.org: Online Resource for Nonprofit Advocacy Launches

The Watcher: August 25, 2003

Vol. 4, No. 17 PDF Version

Fiscal Stewardship

Economy and Jobs Watch: 2001 Recession in Perspective

Help Us Put "A Face on the Numbers"!

The Bush Tax Cuts are No Worse than the Reagan Tax Cuts?

OMB Watch on Estate Tax Tour

Deficit May Reach $500 billion in 2004

Government Openness

Whistleblowers Face Alleged Criminal Investigation

EPA Reponse to 9/11 Influenced by the White House

Jailed Whistleblower Files Appeal

Illinois Strengthens Open Government Laws

Federal Secrecy Includes State and Local Officials

Congress Might Put Nuclear, Energy Programs Behind Closed Doors

Ashcroft on Tour to Defend Patriot

Can Companies Sue Critics for Bad Product Reviews? Supreme Court Asked to Decide

Protecting the Public

Administration Pushes for Increased Oil and Gas Development

Bush Picks Utah Governor to Head EPA

EPA Agrees to Act on Air Pollution in National Parks

Protecting Nonprofit Rights

Federal Agencies Launching Grants.gov Web Site

More Evidence of Retaliatory Grant Audits Emerges

FCC Postpones New Rule on ?Junk? Faxes

The Watcher: August 11, 2003

Vol. 4, No. 16 PDF Version

Fiscal Stewardship

September Will be Appropriations Month

Internal Revenue Service Scales Back EITC Certification Plan

New State Information

State Budget Cuts - From the Ridiculous to the Tragic

States Struggle to Fund Medicaid

Disturbing Pattern Emerging on Government Budget Analyses

Economy and Jobs Watch: More Weakness in GDP and Employment

Government Openness

Senators and Secretive Saudis Ask US to Declassify 9/11 Report

EPA Misinformation Could Pose Health Risks for the Public

Senate Denied Information, Again

First Data Quality Lawsuit Filed

Counterterrorism Database Could Threaten Privacy

Support for 1st amendment rights grows, poll finds

Executive Order Assigns Information Sharing Development to DHS

With Patriot III tour planned, Congress & lawsuits challenge Patriot Act

Protecting the Public

Senate Puts Aside GOP Energy Bill, Passes Last Year's Version

Rule Allows Timber Projects to Avoid Environmental Assessments

FDA Rolls Back Olestra Labeling Requirements

Court Rejects Tire Pressure Monitoring Rule as Too Weak

Report Documents Administration's Political Interference with Science

Protecting Nonprofit Rights

OMB Watch Calls for Withdrawal of Anti-Terrorist Financing Guidelines for Nonprofits

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