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The Watcher: December 19, 2006 -- Year-in-Review Edition

Vol. 7, No. 25 PDF Version

Fiscal Stewardship

2006 Fiscal Policy Year in Review: Process Failures, Budgetary Gridlock

Government Openness

The 2006 Transparency Awards

Protecting the Public

Attempts to Roll Back, Delay Regulatory Protections Common in 2006

Protecting Nonprofit Rights

2006 Roundup: Federal Developments Impacting Nonprofit Speech Rights

The Watcher: December 5, 2006

Vol. 7, No. 24 PDF Version

Fiscal Stewardship

Lame Duck Session Holds Little Hope for Appropriations Bills

Alternative Minimum Tax Likely to be Large Issue in 2007

Government Openness

Pelosi and Reid Promise Increased Congressional Transparency

Terrorism Information Sharing Initiative Faces Several Hurdles

EPA Drops Plan to Change TRI Reporting Frequency, Major Flaws Remain

Protecting the Public

FDA Negotiates Increase in Drug Company User Fees

Supreme Court Wades into Climate Change Debate

Protecting Nonprofit Rights

ACLU Seeks Congressional Hearings on Monitoring of Antiwar Groups

Court Says Parts of Executive Order Used to Shut Down Charities are Unconstitutional

The Watcher: November 21, 2006

Vol. 7, No. 23 PDF Version

Fiscal Stewardship

Threat of Estate Tax Rollback Finished for 2006

Same Old Congress, Same Old Budgetary Gridlock: Long-Term CR Likely in December

Government Openness

Supreme Court May Hear Secret Regulation Case

Protecting the Public

Senate Committee Set to Vote on Dudley for Regulatory Czar

Protecting Nonprofit Rights

Democrats Pledge Ethics Reforms

FEC Expands Regulation of Voter Guides

The Watcher: November 7, 2006

Vol. 7, No. 22 PDF Version

Fiscal Stewardship

Tax Policy on the Campaign Trail

Congress Continues Insufficient Oversight of Federal Contracts

Government Openness

Declassification Board: Bulwark Against Excessive Secrecy or Executive 'Puppet'?

Intelligence Agencies Go Wiki

Nuclear Commission Re-proposes Secrecy Rule

Protecting the Public

EPA Falters on Commitment to Environmental Justice

Protecting Nonprofit Rights

Nonprofits Call for Release of Frozen Funds for Humanitarian Efforts

ACORN Voter Registration Drive Investigated

Tumultuous Week for Voting Rights, Confusing Week for Voters

The Watcher: October 24, 2006

Vol. 7, No. 21 PDF Version

Fiscal Stewardship

Treasury Reports Quarter-Trillion Dollar Deficit; President Still Obscures Fiscal Problems

Citizens for Tax Justice Give Congress, President Failing Marks on Tax Policy

A Fiscal Policy Review of the 109th Congress

Government Openness

Bill Requires Release of Sensitive Security Information

Attorney General Gives Thumbs Up to Agencies on FOIA Plans

FedSpending Spotlight: Skyrocketing Contracts, Less Competition

Protecting the Public

Opposition to Dudley as Regulatory Czar Mounts

Ballot Initiatives Threaten Regulatory Protections

Protecting Nonprofit Rights

First Church Electioneering Bill Introduced in Senate

Databases Monitor Activity of Peace Activists, Public Opinion

Report Details Abramoff Abuse of Nonprofits, Recommends New Rules

The Watcher: October 11, 2006

Vol. 7, No. 20 PDF Version

Fiscal Stewardship

OMB Watch Launches FedSpending.org

Protecting Nonprofit Rights

Treasury Releases Third Version of Anti-Terrorist Financing Guidelines

The Watcher: September 26, 2006

Vol. 7, No. 19 PDF Version

Fiscal Stewardship

Budget Failures: Cutting to the Core

Another Estate Tax Vote Unlikely During This Congress

Letter from Gary Bass: OMB Watch Launches FedSpending.org to Shed Light on Government Spending

Government Openness

GAO Fails to Adequately Assess the Data Quality Act

Secretive Biodefense Legislation Moves Forward

Pending EPA Library Closures Spark Protest and Controversy

Chemical Insecurity

NSA Bills Head to a Vote

OPEN Government Act Clears Senate Committee Hurdle

Protecting the Public

E. Coli Outbreak Is Reason to Better Protect Food Supply

Protecting Nonprofit Rights

Terrorism Task Force Raids Muslim Charity, Making Ramadan Giving Problematic

Bipartisan Effort Supports E-Filing of Senate Campaign Contributions

IRS Investigations of Political Activity Heat Up

The Watcher: September 12, 2006

Vol. 7, No. 18 PDF Version

Fiscal Stewardship

Spending Transparency Bill Passes Senate, House Approval Imminent

Congress Squanders Year As Appropriations Remain Unfinished

Senate Finance Committee Looks at Executive Compensation Excesses

Trifecta Bill May Resurface in Senate This Month

Earmark My Word: Boehner Promises House Action This Week

Government Openness

Getting Congress to Punch the Clock

DHS Fails to Protect Critical Infrastructure

Five Years Since 9/11: More Secrecy, Less Security

States Group Resolved Against EPA's Plans to Cut Toxics Reporting

Government Receives Poor Grades on Secrecy

Protecting the Public

Criticism of Draft Risk Assessment Bulletin May Delay Implementation

Report Finds Dudley Unfit to Serve

Protecting Nonprofit Rights

IRS Drops Case Against NAACP

FEC Deadlocks on Grassroots Lobbying Broadcast Exemption

Nonprofits Mobilize to Fight Voter Suppression

The Watcher: August 22, 2006

Vol. 7, No. 17 PDF Version

Fiscal Stewardship

Strange Happenings at the IRS Could Affect Enforcement

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

Government Openness

New Official Secrets Law?: Case Threatens Open Government and Freedom of Press

Federal Court Finds NSA Eavesdropping Program Unconstitutional

Open Government Rising Issue for 2006 Elections

Protecting the Public

With Hearing Possible on Extremist Nominee for Regulatory Czar, Opponents Gear Up for Fight

Dudley Materials Reappear on Mercatus Website

Protecting Nonprofit Rights

As Elections Near, New Complaints of Partisan Activity Filed Against Religious Groups

The Watcher: August 8, 2006

Vol. 7, No. 16 PDF Version

Fiscal Stewardship

Senate Defeats Estate Tax Giveaway...Yet Again

Government Openness

Renewed Call for FOIA Improvement Legislation

Safer Chemicals Provision Improves Federal Chemical Security Bill

Contracts and Grants Disclosure Bill Fast-Tracked

Protecting the Public

Bush Nominates Anti-Regulatory Zealot to Head Regulatory Policy

Sunset Legislation Delayed Until September

Protecting Nonprofit Rights

GAO Finds More Grantee Input, Standardization Needed in Grants Streamlining

FEC Releases Proposed Exemption for Grassroots Lobbying Broadcasts

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