RECLAIMING AMERICA: Progressive Strategy for a New Era APRIL 10-12, Washington DC 2002 is a high-stakes year for American democracy. Campaign for America’s Future invites you to join hundreds of citizen and labor activists, policy experts, and progressive political leaders for a national conference on progressive strategy for the new era. For more information visit www.ourfuture.org or call 1-888-748-7010.

Homeland Security vs. HHS is No Choice At All (03/04/2002)
Just as investments in the nation’s public health and emergency medical systems, in the name of homeland security, are good for the country, so, too are investments in non-emergency, non-defense programs that help to meet the needs of the country’s struggling communities. Tax cuts should not prevent us from addressing both.

President Issues Welfare Reauthorization Proposal (03/04/2002)

The President released his Welfare Reform Agenda last week and with it came much concern from those who are currently working to ensure that changes are made to the 1996 welfare reform law to address the needs of those who are working (currently defined as a success under the 1996 welfare reform law measurement) but are still unable to provide for the basic needs of their families.

John Graham Advises EPA to Improve Information Policies (03/04/2002)
John Graham, administrator of OMB’s Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, today released a “prompt letter” to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) urging the agency to take three steps to improve public access to its information. Graham’s top priority is to have EPA establish an identification number for each facility reporting information to the agency.

DOE Forced to Turn Over Energy Task Force Documents (03/04/2002)
In a ruling that upholds the public’s right to access government information, a D.C. federal district court ordered the Department of Energy (DOE) on February 21 to hand over documents to the Natural Resources Defense Council that relate to the workings of Vice President Dick Cheney’s energy task force.

Bush Administration?s E-Government Strategy Released (03/04/2002)
Vice President Cheney recently (February 27) unveiled the administration’s plans to harness the Internet to make government more responsive and accessible, focusing mostly on transactions, such as the filing of taxes, while giving little attention to the dissemination of information.

FERC Proposes Changes to Public Access Policies (03/04/2002)
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) seeks public input on “changes that should be made to its regulations to restrict unfettered general public access to critical energy infrastructure information, but still permit those with a need for the information to obtain it in an efficient manner.” The request for public input was published Jan. 16, 2002 by FERC and appeared in the Jan. 23, 2002 Federal Register. Read the press release on FERC's site.

Debate Continues on Nonitemizer Deduction (03/04/2002)
Why do OMB Watch and the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities worry a proposed charitable tax incentive may not be a good idea? The President's budget proposes deep cuts in domestic programs. To learn more read the full story.

Graham Pushes Regulatory Priorities in President's Budget (03/04/2002)

As administrator of the Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) -- which has authority to review and possibly reject or amend agency regulatory proposals -- John Graham is pressing agencies to adopt particular analytical methods to assess regulatory costs and benefits that would rig the result and undoubtedly lead to less protective health, safety, and environmental standards.