Publications :  The Watcher :  OMB Watcher Vol. 7: 2006 :  January 10, 2006 Vol. 7, No. 1 : 

In This Issue

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Letter from Gary Bass: Washington's Corruption Woes (01/11/2006)
Guilty pleas by super-lobbyist Jack Abramoff and his partner Michael Scanlon, former key staffer of former-House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, have put a spotlight on graft and corruption in Washington--and the obscene influence money exerts over politics today. Both Republican and Democratic leaders are now poised to offer "solutions" to this unseemly situation. These solutions, however, must do more than simply scratch the surface of this enormous problem. And dramatic changes to this dysfunctional dynamic of Washington politics are unlikely unless the public gets engaged.

Two New Tax Cuts Benefit the Wealthy (01/11/2006)
As a fitting kick-start to a year in which President Bush is expected to push hard to make his expensive and unbalanced tax cuts permanent, two new tax cuts went into effect that almost exclusively benefit high-income households. These tax cuts, referred to as "PEP" and "Pease," were enacted in 2001 but did not go into effect until 2006--an underhanded but politically advantageous move that kept the total cost of the 2001 tax cut package within set budget limitations.

Congress Has Yet to Pass Budget, Tax Cuts (01/11/2006)
The budget and tax reconciliation measures laid out in Congress's April 2005 budget resolution took up a good deal of lawmakers' time and energy throughout last fall, and continue to linger unfinished, even as the release of the president's Fiscal Year 2007 budget rapidly approaches. The House of Representatives, in fact, is scheduled to vote on the final budget bill one week before the president is scheduled to release his budget on Feb. 6. The vote will pave the way for votes on the two remaining reconciliation measures: one to cut taxes by as much as $70 billion and one to increase the national debt limit by $781 billion.

Collins' Revised Chemical Security Bill: An Improving Grade (01/11/2006)
Shortly before Congress broke for recess in December, Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), Chair of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs, introduced the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Act of 2005 (S. 2145). The bill, which is co-sponsored by Sens. Joseph Lieberman (D-CT), Norm Coleman (R-MN), Thomas Carper (D-DE) and Carl Levin (D-MI), is a significant improvement over the draft bill previously evaluated by OMB Watch (see Failing Grade on Chemical Security, The OMB Watcher [Dec. 13, 2005]), but still fails to require reporting on the use of safer technologies.

Executive Order to 'Improve' Freedom of Information Act (01/11/2006)
President Bush issued Executive Order 13392 on Dec. 14 to help improve the processing of requests made under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Open government advocates, however, argue the order is no substitute for legislation in the Senate that would solve many of the underlying problems with FOIA.

After Brinksmanship, PATRIOT Act Is Extended One Month (01/11/2006)
Among the fireworks at the close of the 2005 congressional session, the extension of the 16 sunset provisions of the USA PATRIOT Act underwent a series of last-minute brinksmanship maneuvers.

Is Industry Pulling EPA's Strings? (01/11/2006)
Correspondences obtained by OMB Watch between the Small Business Administration (SBA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) raise significant questions about the influence SBA exerted over EPA's decision to pursue its current proposals to reduce chemical reporting under the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI).

Concern Grows Over Unauthorized Domestic Spying (01/11/2006)
The Bush administration's acknowledgement of secret and unauthorized domestic spying since the 9/11 attacks has roiled both Republicans and Democrats in Congress. On Dec. 16, The New York Times reported President Bush authorized the National Security Agency (NSA) to eavesdrop on domestic phone calls and emails without a wiretapping warrant, kicking off a storm of protest just as renewal of the USA PATRIOT Act was being considered. OMB Watch responded to the unfolding events in a Dec. 20 statement. The following is a summary of major events since the Times story broke.

FEC: No Exceptions for Charities to Electioneering Communications Rule (01/11/2006)
On December 21, the Federal Election Commission (FEC) voted to drop exemptions for 501(c)(3) nonprofits to Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA) rules that restrict electioneering communications. The new rule eliminates exemptions for television, radio and cable advertisements that mention a federal candidate 30 days before a primary or 60 days before a general election paid for by charities and religious organizations, as well as "public service announcements," (PSAs) which are aired for free. The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in a case challenging the constitutionality of the electioneering communications rule on Jan. 17.

IRS Clears Florida Church of Partisan Activity Accusation (01/11/2006)
An IRS investigation of a Florida church has found there was no partisan political activity when candidates attended and appeared at services during the 2004 election season.

Abramoff Plea Brings New Lobby Reform Bills (01/11/2006)
With the recent plea bargain made by high-powered lobbyist Jack Abramoff, federal lobbying reform bills have gained momentum in Congress, with Democrats and Republicans vying to lead the pack and shake the "Abramoff taint" in time for re-election.

White House 'Guidance' to Burden Agencies, Delay Information (01/11/2006)
A White House proposal will hinder federal agency efforts to provide important information to the public by opening guidance documents to politicization and industry influence, according to comments filed by Citizens for Sensible Safeguards.

White House Proposes Guidelines to Control Agency Risk Assessments (01/11/2006)
When it rains, it pours: the same day the White House closed the comment period on its proposed bulletin to govern agency guidance practices, the White House Office of Management and Budget released a proposed bulletin to govern agency risk assessments.

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