OMB Watch

Our Issue Areas: Federal Budget Information & Access Nonprofit Advocacy Regulatory Policy

OMB Watch Wins Prestigious Government Transparency Award
In mid-July, the American Association of Law Libraries (AALL) presented OMB Watch Executive Director Gary D. Bass with AALL's prestigious Public Access To Government Information Award. Established in 1998, the award is given to recognize persons or organizations that have made significant contributions to protect and promote greater public access to government information. The award recognizes the efforts OMB Watch has made to advance government transparency and to push back against the rampant secrecy that has been a hallmark of the federal government since 2001.
Learn more about the award >>

More on the Importance of Access to Government Information

New Paper Offers Comprehensive Analysis of War on Terror's Toll on Charities, Foundations, Underserved Populations
On July 14, OMB Watch and Grantmakers Without Borders released a paper that comprehensively documents the impacts that the war on terror is having on charities, foundations, and underserved populations around the globe. Titled Collateral Damage: How the War on Terror Hurts Charities, Foundations, and the People They Serve, the paper makes clear that shortsighted, undemocratic policies are constraining the critical activities of the charitable and philanthropic sectors, stifling free speech, and ultimately impeding the fight against terrorism.
Learn more >>

Read Collateral Damage

Purchase Hard Copies of the Paper at Amazon.com

See Press Coverage of the Paper at Inter Press Service News

White House Climate Change Policy -- Delay, Delete, and Deny
The Bush administration continues its strong efforts to censor climate change information that reaches the public and Congress. Recent reports indicate that the White House pressured the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to make changes to its regulatory process regarding climate change and that Vice President Dick Cheney's office was responsible for suppressing key sections of the congressional testimony of a high-level official at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Learn more >>

More on Politics and Science

Life's Value Shrinks at EPA
An Associated Press (AP) investigation released July 10 showed that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been devaluing human life when it prepares cost-benefit analyses for new regulations. Federal agencies such as EPA use the life value, an inaccurate statistic, to help them determine whether a proposal's benefits will outweigh compliance costs to industry.
Read more >>

Read the Related Blog Post, "Find out How Much You're Worth. Take our Trip around the Beltway."

Watch Stephen Colbert Inject Humor into the Issues of Cost-Benefit Analysis and Public Protections

More on Cost-Benefit Analysis and Public Protections

EPA and Union Agree on Process for Reopening Libraries
In response to a federal arbitrator's decision in February, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) recently signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) establishing procedures for the reopening of recently closed EPA libraries and bringing the union to the planning table for any future changes to the library network.
Read more >>

More on Environmental Right-to-Know Issues

Appropriations Breakdown Threatens Federal Investments
As the FY 2009 appropriations process grinds to a halt, a new OMB Watch analysis of the past nine fiscal years reveals that the nation's priorities are better served when Congress and the president work together to complete the annual appropriations process. Congress's abandonment of the FY 2009 appropriations process increases the risk that the resources critical to vital government supports will be further constrained as both sides of the aisle simply refuse to work toward agreement on FY 2009 appropriations legislation.
Read more >>

More on the Federal Budget and Appropriations Process

Seen but not Heard Now Available on Amazon.com
We've made an important nonprofit policy advocacy resource easier to find online! OMB Watch has worked with The Aspen Institute to make Seen but not Heard: Strengthening Nonprofit Advocacy available on Amazon.com. Published in late 2007, the book serves as a comprehensive analysis of the results of the Strengthening Nonprofit Advocacy Project, a joint research effort of OMB Watch, Tufts University, and the Center for Lobbying in the Public Interest. The book should be of interest to anyone concerned with nonprofits, as well as anyone who makes policy and tries to influence it. It is written from the perspective of one who believes it is right, proper, and beneficial for nonprofits to engage in the formation of public policy.
Learn more >>

Purchase Seen but not Heard

More on the Importance of Nonprofit Advocacy

OMB Watch on Health, Safety, and Environmental Protections
In this video, Executive Director Gary Bass discusses the importance of public protections; the Bush administration's track record on such protections; and what the American people can do to take our country back from the big-monied special interests that are endangering our health and safety. Be sure to leave comments on our YouTube page with suggestions for future videos!

Visit the OMB Watch YouTube channel >>

View Related Blog Post, "On Food Tracking, FDA Says 'Not Our Responsibility'"

More on the Importance of Public Health, Safety, and Environmental Protections

OMB Watch turns 25 this year! Visit our special 25th Anniversary page to learn about the variety of ways that you can help us celebrate this milestone.

JOIN THE CELEBRATION >>

Make a special contribution in honor of our 25th Anniversary, and you'll support our continued pursuit of a more open and accountable government that promotes fairness and equity.

CONTRIBUTE HERE >>