Commentators disagree whether a recent vote on a Senate measure to reject part of the Bush administration's mercury rule should be viewed as a sign of strength or weakness for progressives in environmental fights to come. The vote in question was on ">S. J. Res. 20, a joint resolution under the Congressional Review Act to reject part of the Environmental Protection Agency's mercury rule.

September 19, 2005 RE: A Survey to Gather Your Thoughts on Launching a Domestic Security Initiative Dear Friend of OMB Watch: Like you, the board and staff of OMB Watch has been dismayed, even outraged, by what has transpired in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. The limited and poorly coordinated government response is a direct consequence of the "starve the beast" mindset that has dominated our nation's capitol in recent years. The era of less government and unquestioned reliance on the private sector must end.

As we survey the events following the storm, our government's early response can only be viewed as woefully inadequate. The government has employed incomplete testing of the dangers, withheld information from the public about chemicals in the flood waters, and provided misleading information about public safety. The public deserves better from the government it relies on as its first line of protection in a crisis.

Last Thursday, the House and Senate quickly passed separate but similar versions of legislation designed to provide targeted and temporary tax cuts to all those directly impacted by Hurricane Katrina. The two bills, which also provide tax incentives to individuals housing evacuees and for businesses who continue to pay employees or hire displaced workers, each passed unanimously. All signs indicate this bill is not the last tax cut Congress will attempt to pass in order to help Katrina victims as GOP leaders have already eluded to additional "economic stimulus" proposals in the pipeline.