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

The Watcher: December 13, 2005

Vol. 6, No. 25 PDF Version

Fiscal Stewardship

Congress Staggers Toward End-of-Session Finish Line

Budget Cuts: The Final Showdown

Tax Cuts: The Final Melee

Year in Review: More Poor Budgetary Stewardship

Government Openness

Secrecy Endangers Biodefense Effort

2005's Information Bunny Hop

Patriot Act Negotiations Come to a Head

Fight to Save the Toxics Release Inventory Heats Up

Failing Grade on Chemical Security

Protecting the Public

Regulatory Year in Review: 2005

White House Report Spins Bush Reg Failures

Protecting Nonprofit Rights

Treasury Seeks Comments on Revised Anti-Terrorist Financing Guidelines for Charities

Nonprofits Urged to Comment on Proposed IRS Exemption from Privacy Act

A Year of Attacks on Advocacy, Flawed Anti-Terrorism Measures

Other Stories

A Letter from Gary Bass

The Watcher: November 29, 2005

Vol. 6, No. 24 PDF Version

Fiscal Stewardship

Post-Katrina Survey Finds Wariness, Desire for Change

Tax Cut Measure Guarantees Increasing Deficits

House, Senate To Battle Over Budget Cuts

It's Not the Most Wonderful Time of the Year (for Appropriations Work)

TABOR: A Losing Proposition for Colorado

Government Openness

A New Ultra-Secret Government Agency

Developments Could Hamper, Help Effort to Preserve TRI

Protecting the Public

Weak Roof Crush Rule Threatens Victims' Rights

White House Asserts Authority Over Agency Guidance Documents

Protecting Nonprofit Rights

Revised Nonprofit Anti-Terrorism Guidelines Expected This Week

Fate in Senate of Nonprofit Gag Provision Uncertain

Nonprofits Urge Supreme Court to Protect Grassroots Communications

The Watcher: November 15, 2005

Vol. 6, No. 23 PDF Version

Fiscal Stewardship

Tax Panel Offers "Tough Love" Tax Reform Recommendations

PAY-GO Narrowly Defeated in Senate Reconciliation Bill

Senate Finance Committee Struggles with Tax Cuts, Addresses Charitable Giving

In Shocking Development, Congress Contemplates Tax Increase

Government Openness

Groups Build Support for the Toxics Release Inventory

Open Government at Stake in Patriot Act Negotiations

Infrastructure Protection Plan Fast-tracked Right Past the Public

Protecting the Public

Industry Costs Pitted Against Public Needs in Homeland Security Policy

Administration Ignores Scientific Evidence and Pushes Forward with Mountaintop Removal

Protecting Nonprofit Rights

IRS Audits Church for Anti-War Sermon

Oral Arguments Held in Case Challenging Advocacy Restrictions on Legal Services Programs

House Rejects Bi-Partisan Effort to Shield Internet from Campaign Finance Laws

New CFC Rule Does Not Mandate List Checking or Compliance with Treasury Guidelines

Other Stories

A Test of the Integrity of Moderate Republicans

The Watcher: November 1, 2005

Vol. 6, No. 22 PDF Version

Fiscal Stewardship

Service Cuts for the Poor to Finance Tax Cuts for the Rich

Congress Remains Out of Step with Public in Hurricane Relief Efforts

Congress' Reconciliation Work Crowds Out Appropriations

Government Openness

TRI: The Tool For Public Protection Against Toxic Pollution

Industry Derails Labor Safety Rule with Data Quality Challenge

Protecting the Public

Senate Uses Minimum Wage Increase to Push Anti-Regulatory Agenda

Nanotech, Genetically Modified Crop News Spotlights Regulatory Gaps

Protecting Nonprofit Rights

Charitable Reform and Giving Legislation For the Long Haul

FEC Considers Broadcast Rule Change

Nonprofit Gag Passes in House, Has Uncertain Future in Senate

OMB Watch Report on Charity and the War on Terror

The Watcher: October 18, 2005

Vol. 6, No. 21 PDF Version

Fiscal Stewardship

Congress Mistakenly Focusing On Katrina Spending As Top Fiscal Danger

President's Tax Panel Hints at its Forthcoming Recommendations

Republicans Use Katrina To Push For More Drastic Cuts

Study Adds Voice of Low-Income Americans to Debate Over Economic Divide

Government Openness

California Biomonitoring Bill Stumbles in its Final Hurdle

Open Records Problems in Old Kentucky

Protecting the Public

Cases Before High Court Could Redefine Limits of Federal Power to Protect Public

Katrina Exposes Some, But Not All, Unmet Security and Safety Needs

Protecting Nonprofit Rights

Rep. Oxley Strikes Deal with House Conservatives; Housing Bill to Include Nonprofit Gag Provision

Federal Court Allows Salvation Army to Consider Employees' Faith

Friend of Court Brief Planned in Supreme Court Case on Grassroots Lobbying

The Watcher: October 4, 2005

Vol. 6, No. 20 PDF Version

Fiscal Stewardship

Scrambling to Offset Katrina Costs, Republicans Continue Dangerous Fiscal Policy

Government Openness

Gag Orders Extended; Library Consortium Must Remain Silent

Katrina Update: Government's Inadequate Response Continues

ALERT: EPA Proposes Rollback on Toxic Pollution Reporting

Protecting the Public

EPA May Be Next for Power to Waive Law

House Effort to Create Sunset, Results Commissions Meets Resistance

Protecting Nonprofit Rights

Social Justice Grantmaking Rises, Shifts Toward Pragmatism

Nonprofit Anti-Advocacy Language Proposed for Housing Bill

Early Reports of FEMA Reimbursement Policy Misleading

Supreme Court, FEC Take on Regulation of Issue Advocacy

CARE Act Re-Introduced in the Senate and House

Other Stories

Congress Passes Stark Continuing Resolution; Many Programs Will See Funding Cuts

The Watcher: September 19, 2005

Vol. 6, No. 19 PDF Version

Fiscal Stewardship

Senate, House Pass First Katrina Tax Cut Package

Katrina Could Cause a Needed Reevaluation of Priorities in Congress

Government Openness

Take Action Now: Tell EPA to Come Clean on Hurricane Katrina Aftermath

Gag Orders Lifted; FBI Can No Longer Silence Discussion of PATRIOT Act, Judge Says

Right-Wing Groups Challenge Link Between Carcinogens, Cancer

Protecting the Public

White House Finds in Katrina Recovery 'Opportunity' to Waive Needed Protections

Homeland Security Waives Law for Border Fence Construction

Analysts Split on Meaning of Mercury Vote

Protecting Nonprofit Rights

OMB Watch Urges Charities to Comment on Proposed FEC Rule

Gag Orders Lifted; Judge Tells FBI It Can No Longer Silence Discussion of PATRIOT Act

Nonprofits and Katrina

Justice Department Documents Illustrate Need for More Disclosure on LDA Enforcement

Other Stories

Letter from Gary Bass on Post-Katrina Progressive Initiative

The Watcher: September 6, 2005

Vol. 6, No. 18 PDF Version

Fiscal Stewardship

Finishing Appropriations Bills Will Be Juggling Act for Congress

Circumstances Force Frist to Postpone Estate Tax Vote

Despite Recovering Economy, Poverty On the Rise for Fourth Straight Year

Government Openness

New Jersey Attorney General's Office Scraps Proposed Secrecy Rule

Public Being Shut Out of Environmental Right-to-Know Hearings

Roberts Errs on Side of Secrecy as White House Counsel

Protecting the Public

Roberts Showed Prudence in Reg Reform Initiative

Protecting Nonprofit Rights

American League of Lobbyists Proposes Principles to Guide Congressional Reform

FBI Documents Reveal Further Spying on Peace, Civil Rights Groups

Debate Over Grants Rules Heats Up as Groups Lose Funds, Challenge Policy

Roberts Documents Show Troubling Disregard for Nonprofit Rights, Desire Not to 'Alienate' Industry

The Watcher: August 22, 2005

Vol. 6, No. 17 PDF Version

Fiscal Stewardship

Congressional Budget Office Projections: No Change in Bleak Long-Term Fiscal Outlook

Economy and Jobs Watch: Continuing Bad News for Americans

Government Openness

Town Seeks to Keep Secret Maps, Images

Open-Government Activist Seeks to Recover Legal Fees from FOIA battle

Minnesota Considers 'Biomonitoring' to Protect Public Health

Industry Misuses Data Quality Act to Challenge EPA Choices

Protecting the Public

Legislative Update: Federalism Bills

States Present Opportunities and Pitfalls for Progressive Regulation

Protecting Nonprofit Rights

Federal Election Commission Seeks Comments on Rule that Could Gag Charities around Elections

Action Expected on Charitable Giving Legislation in September

The Watcher: August 8, 2005

Vol. 6, No. 16 PDF Version

Fiscal Stewardship

Estate Tax Vote Slated for September -- Take Action Now!

Government Openness

Chemical Security Legislation to Address Transport Issues Introduced

Cities Tackle Chemical Transportation Security

First Public Case of Critical Infrastructure Information

Attorney General Considers Writing New FOIA Memo

Protecting the Public

High Court Nominee Admits Lobbying OMB, FDA

Why Performance Standards May Be Superior to Cap-and-Trade

Protecting Nonprofit Rights

No Charges for Man Who Ejected Three from Town Hall Meeting

Study Finds Little Oversight of Religious Content or Client Choice in Gov't-Funded Programs

Study Points to Improvements in Communication With Congress in Digital Age

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