Publications :  The Watcher :  OMB Watcher Vol. 6: 2005 :  January 10, 2005 Vol.6, No.1 : 

In This Issue

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Halving the Deficit Will Involve Major Changes—or ‘Fuzzy Math’ (01/10/2005)
Anybody who listened to President Bush speak during his campaign heard a few specific messages reiterated again and again, loud and clear. One addressed the federal budget deficit, which at 3.6 percent of GDP (gross domestic product) in 2004 was the highest it has been in over a decade. Bush has vowed to halve the deficit by 2009. He repeated this promise in a December press conference, stating he will cut the deficit in half while continuing to pursue both making the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts permanent and providing “every tool and resource for our military.”

Social Security Reform Comes Front and Center (01/10/2005)
The debate on Social Security continues to rage, with scores of new articles, reports, and speeches generated every week. Analysts, economists, politicians and a wide range of others on all points of the spectrum have been holding briefings, discussions, and forums addressing how and when to reform the Social Security investment program.

Seen and Heard: 109th Congress Opens with Host of Tough Issues (01/10/2005)
The 109th Congress of the United States opened last week, with much of the fanfare surrounding GOP pre-session planning (particularly ethics committee rule changes) and the decision of a few Democrats (including Senator Boxer from California) to hopelessly challenge the presidential election results from Ohio during the electoral college count on Thursday. In just the first week, there is already an ambitious agenda for both chambers, and this Congress faces many unfinished priorities and issues from 2004, such as energy and highway legislation, an asbestos trust fund proposal, and tort reform. With the perennially ineffective budget process and Social Security reform looming, this Congress already has a very full plate.

Wisconsin Speaker Pushing for New Sunshine Law (01/10/2005)
A Wisconsin lawmaker recently proposed state “sunshine” legislation aimed at providing more transparency in the state’s contracting process. Currently, details about government contracts are not available to the public.

Illinois State Police Issue Gag Order (01/10/2005)
A new Illinois State Police policy could silence whistleblowers that expose corruption, impropriety or wrongdoing within the police department by prohibiting employees from talking to news reporters.

Working Group on Community Right to Know Joins OMB Watch (01/10/2005)
Since 1989, the Working Group on Community Right-to-Know has helped people defend and improve our right-to-know about environmental and public health concerns. As of January 2005, the Working Group was merged into OMB Watch and will focus on outreach activities.

OMB Finalizes Peer Review Proposal (01/10/2005)
Shortly before the holidays, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) released a final version of its bulletin to establish government-wide requirements for when and how federal agencies use scientific peer review. The final bulletin makes modest changes to the revised proposal that OMB published April 28, 2004 which only allowed a 30-day comment period. OMB’s announcement did not explain the seven-month delay until just before the holiday season, when many academics, scientists and public interest groups concerned with the policy were away on vacations.

Court Strikes Down Restrictions on Private Funds for Legal Services Programs (01/10/2005)
On Dec. 20, 2004 the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York struck down application of a 1996 rule imposing restrictions on Legal Services Corporation (LSC) funds on private funding of legal aid groups. The judge denied the plaintiffs' challenge to the restrictions on direct LSC funding. In Dobbins v. Legal Services Corporation,the court found that the physical separation requirement for activities funded with private dollars violates the plaintiffs' First Amendment rights because it creates an undue burden on important rights and the government's justification did not support imposing such a burden.

Tsunami Relief Raises Earmarking Issues for Charities (01/10/2005)
The enormous outpouring of giving for victims of the tsunami disaster in Southeast Asia is bringing the role of nonprofits in international disaster relief into the public eye once again. Many donors are earmarking their contributions for tsunami relief, raising some concern that disaster relief needs in other areas of the world may suffer.

Administration Will Step Up Faith-Based Efforts (01/10/2005)
Despite budget cuts for social service programs, Jim Towey, director of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives told a recent Pew Charitable Trusts conference on religion and social policy that the administration will push its faith-based agenda in the 109th Congress.

White House Advances Anti-Regulatory Hit List (01/10/2005)
The White House waited until eight days before Christmas to reveal its new regulatory �reform� plan instructing agencies to review and complete action plans on a regulatory hit list of over 200 suggestions for reversing protections of the public interest, mostly proposed by industry lobbyists.

Bush Renominates Industry-Backed Radical Right-wingers to Federal Bench (01/10/2005)
Just two days before Christmas, the White House announced its intention to renominate to the federal bench 20 radical right-wing and corporate-friendly extremists whose nominations had been thwarted in the 108th Congress.

Expect Anti-Regulatory Bills in 109th Congress (01/10/2005)
When the 109th Congress reconvenes on Jan. 20, expect Republican lawmakers to continue work on anti-regulatory measures that will protect industry interests at the cost of the public interest.

White House Meets with Industry to Plan Deregulatory Strategy (01/10/2005)
Over the past several months, the White House has met with industry representatives to develop a sweeping deregulatory strategy.

New Forestry Rules Endanger Wildlife, Limit Public Participation (01/10/2005)
Three days before Christmas the U.S. Forest Service gave the timber and paper industry an early Christmas present, announcing a final rule that will drastically overhaul the U.S. Forest Service�s land management system.

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