Government Matters Articles

Toy Recalls Bring Attention to Commission's Inadequacies

The Aug. 2 recall by Mattel, Inc. of 1.5 million toys that may contain excessive levels of lead paint once again calls into question the Consumer Product Safety Commission's (CPSC) voluntary approach to regulating industry. Mattel's recall follows the June recall of 1.5 million toys by the RC2 Corp. for the same lead-based paint danger.

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Congress Approves Fiscally Responsible Expansion of Children's Health Insurance

During the week of July 30, the House and Senate passed different versions of a reauthorization and expansion of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) that will expand health care coverage to millions of uninsured children across the country. The Senate version would extend coverage to about four million additional children, while the House version would add five million children and root out excess costs in the Medicare Advantage program, which privatizes health insurance but at a higher cost than traditional Medicare coverage.

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Senate Committees OK Nussle

On July 31 and Aug. 2, the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and Budget Committees approved the nomination of former Rep. Jim Nussle (R-IA) to serve as Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director, by votes of 16-0 and 22-1, respectively. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has scheduled a floor vote on the nomination for Sept. 4.

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House Hearing on Nonprofits Sees the Positive

The House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Oversight, led by Chairman John Lewis (D-GA), held a hearing July 24 on tax-exempt charitable organizations. Lewis praised charities and foundations, acknowledging they "make up the very fabric of our communities. They know the deepest human needs of our friends and neighbors and they know the solutions that work." Other members spoke positively about the work of nonprofits, referencing successful groups in their districts. The opening remarks of Rep.

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Senate Bill Bans States from Limiting Nonprofit Voter Registration Drives

On July 25, the Senate Rules Committee held a hearing on an election reform bill that includes a provision that would prevent states from placing undue restrictions on voter registration drives by nonprofits. During the last several years, there has been an increase in the number of voters registered through voter registration drives conducted by charities and other third parties, such as the League of Women Voters and ACORN. Discussion of the bill before the committee — the Ballot Integrity Act of 2007 (S.

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FBI Raids Two U.S. Muslim Charities on Eve of Holy Land Trial

On July 24, the Goodwill Charitable Organization (GCO) of Dearborn, MI, was added to the Department of Treasury's Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list for alleged ties to Hezbollah. As a result, the group's assets have been frozen and U.S. citizens are barred from conducting any transactions with the organization. The office of Al-Mabarrat Charitable Organization was also searched and files removed, but the organization was not designated as a supporter of terrorism and continues to operate.

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Size Matters: Nanotechnologies Present New Challenges

Three documents released since July 26, and a recent public hearing, highlighted the difficulties of promoting promising new nanotechnologies, protecting public health and safety, and safely disposing of waste products from their use and manufacturing. Nanotechnology involves manipulating matter the size of one-billionth of a meter or 100,000 times smaller than the width of a human hair. In 2005, more than $30 billion in nanotechnology products were sold globally, according to the Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies (PEN) at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars.

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Questions, Concerns Surround Start of Nussle Confirmation Hearings

On June 19, Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Rob Portman announced his resignation, effective in August. The same day, President Bush nominated former House Budget Committee chairman Jim Nussle (R-IA) to be the next OMB director. Today, July 24, the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (HSGAC) held the first confirmation hearing for Nussle; on July 26, the Senate Budget Committee, which also has jurisdiction over the nomination, will hold its own hearings.

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Pressure to Pass Lobby Reform Grows

No one is certain when Congress will leave for its summer recess. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has said the Senate will recess only when it has passed several high profile bills, including lobby reform. Progress on this legislation has stalled because Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC) has used parliamentary procedure to stop Reid from appointing the Senate conferees. One solution to the problem may be that the House and Senate pass identical bills to avoid a conference. However, reform groups have raised concerns about this process, since it may result in weakened legislation.

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FEMA Ignores Toxic Trailers of Hurricane Victims

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) turned a blind eye to Katrina victims who became ill while living in FEMA-provided trailers, according to testimony given at a hearing of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on July 19. Trailer tenants and experts described how FEMA, with evidence of toxic levels of formaldehyde in the trailers from construction materials, refused to substantively evaluate the extent of the problem, respond to known instances of formaldehyde poisoning or take adequate precautionary action.

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