Publications :  The Watcher :  OMB Watcher Vol. 7: 2006 :  October 24, 2006 Vol. 7, No. 21 : 

In This Issue

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Opposition to Dudley as Regulatory Czar Mounts (10/24/2006)
A Senate committee recently announced a hearing for Nov. 13 to consider the nomination of Susan Dudley to be the head of the White House's regulatory office. The Dudley nomination has created a firestorm of protest from organizations representing workers, environmental issues, consumer protections, and other public interest concerns.

Ballot Initiatives Threaten Regulatory Protections (10/24/2006)
November ballot initiatives in six states would force state governments to provide compensation for lost property value as a result of regulation or be forced to waive the regulatory protection.

Bill Requires Release of Sensitive Security Information (10/24/2006)
In a positive development for open government, earlier this month President Bush signed into law the 2007 Homeland Security Appropriations Act which included provisions that mandate that all documents categorized as "sensitive security information" (SSI) be released after three years. Only a determination by the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that there is a "rational reason" to continue to withhold the information can postpone the release.

FedSpending Spotlight: Skyrocketing Contracts, Less Competition (10/24/2006)
Lurita Doan, the new head of the General Services Administration (GSA), recently complained about the growth of Government-wide Acquisition Contracts (GWACs) and the loss of contracting efficiency. Data from FedSpending.org reinforces these efficiency concerns by revealing the fast growth in federal contracts and, specifically, the remarkable growth of contracts for which there was little to no competition.

Attorney General Gives Thumbs Up to Agencies on FOIA Plans (10/24/2006)
Attorney General Alberto Gonzales issued a report last week to President Bush on the implementation of Executive Order 13392, which required agencies to establish Chief Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Officers and develop FOIA improvement plans to reduce backlogs and increase public access to highly sought-after government information. The report showers praise on agency improvement plans, in sharp contrast to an OpenTheGovernment.org review that found agencies failed to address important FOIA improvement areas.

Treasury Reports Quarter-Trillion Dollar Deficit; President Still Obscures Fiscal Problems (10/24/2006)
When the Treasury Department closed the books on Fiscal year 2006 on Sept. 30, one number precipitated a furious round of back-slaps and high-fives in the halls of the White House and the Office of Management and Budget - $248 billion. President Bush had no compunction about expressing glee about the nearly quarter-trillion dollar federal budget deficit for FY2006. Unacknowledged by the president, of course, was the simple fact, as pointed out by the Government Accountability Office, that "today's fiscal policy remains unsustainable." And in ignoring the reality of forecasts from all economic quarters, Mr. Bush continues to misconstrue the state of the economy and the fiscal health of the nation.

A Fiscal Policy Review of the 109th Congress (10/24/2006)
With just a few short post-election, lame-duck weeks left, the 109th Congress will leave behind a legacy of woefully inadequate action on fiscal policy. With a set of fiscal challenges that included the need for comprehensive tax reform, concerns over Social Security insolvency, large and growing deficits, the 109th Congress' list of accomplishments is almost non-existent.

Citizens for Tax Justice Give Congress, President Failing Marks on Tax Policy (10/24/2006)
The last six years of fiscal policy under the Bush Administration have been a bad deal for 99 percent of Americans, according to two reports released last week by Citizens for Tax Justice (CTJ).

Report Details Abramoff Abuse of Nonprofits, Recommends New Rules (10/24/2006)
An Oct. 12 report from Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Max Baucus (D-MT) examines interactions between five tax-exempt organizations and disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff and his associates, finding instances of serious abuse. The report recommends a broad expansion of the definition of lobbying, increased disclosure requirements and enhanced penalties for violations. Its recommendations for further action by federal agencies with investigative and enforcement authority has received national attention. Receiving less media attention, however, is committee chair Charles Grassley's (R-IA) call for a more comprehensive examination of the role of nonprofits in lobbying and politics. Nonprofits thus will need to pay close attention to future committee action that could substantially affect nonprofit advocacy rights.

First Church Electioneering Bill Introduced in Senate (10/24/2006)
On Sept. 27, Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK) introduced S.3957, the Religious Freedom Act of 2006, which would prevent houses of worship from losing their tax-exempt status if they speak out on "public issues, election contests, and pending legislation made in a theological or philosophical context." The bill was sparked by increased scrutiny on religious and charitable organizations as specific cases of possible partisan campaign intervention have come to light. Similar legislation has failed to pass in the House during this Congress.

Databases Monitor Activity of Peace Activists, Public Opinion (10/24/2006)
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has revealed more evidence of Pentagon spying on nonprofits that oppose the war in Iraq. Meanwhile, new Homeland Security Department programs that will monitor public opinion, emails and blogs raise further concerns about the free speech rights of nonprofits and the civil liberties of Americans.

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