Government Matters Articles

DeMint's Social Security Plan Gets Attention, But Does Nothing to Address Solvency

Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC) revealed a proposal for Social Security overhaul last week that has received the attention of both the White House and the House Ways and Means Committee. According to DeMint, the proposal -- dubbed the initiative to Stop the Raid on Social Security Act (S. 274) -- would stop members of Congress from spending Social Security funds that exceed the amount currently needed to pay benefits on other priorities.

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Louisville, Kentucky Finalizes New Air Quality Program

On June 21, the Louisville Air Pollution Control Board unanimously approved the Strategic Toxic Air Reduction (STAR) program to require industrial facilities to reduce emissions of hazardous air pollutants. The process that led to the program, which will be implemented July 1, demonstrates how invaluable public access to environmental information is in protecting the health and safety of communities.

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Past Government Secrecy Takes its Toll on Steelworkers

Proponents of government secrecy would do well to consider the story of Bethlehem Steel when pushing for greater secrecy in the name of homeland security. The federal government admitted in 2000, that it had knowingly exposed thousands of workers in steel mills to radiation without any protection or warning during the 1940s and 50s. The workers, kept in the dark about the exposure because of national security concerns, have paid for years -- at times with their very lives.

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American Chemical Society Tries to Limit Public Database of Chemicals

Congress is considering intervening in a dispute about publicly available scientific information. The American Chemical Society (ACS) has asked that Congress limit or refocus the National Institute of Health's (NIH) PubChem database. PubChem is a freely accessible database that provides information about small molecules primarily used by medical researchers. ACS has raised its objections because PubChem overlaps with its commercial enterprise, Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) Registry.

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Citizens Protest New Jersey's Proposed Homeland Security Secrecy

Workers and environmentalists picketed outside the office of New Jersey Attorney General Peter Harvey on June 22 to protest proposed changes to the state's Open Public Records Act (OPRA). Harvey has proposed exempting various facilities from the public records law, including chemical plants, in the interest of homeland security. Protesters expressed concern that the new exemptions are too broad and would conceal from the public important information about toxins in their communities.

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Senate Votes to Stop Sweeping Secrecy Laws

The Senate voted on Friday, June 24, to better explain when Congress keeps information from the public. The move is intended to push Congress to be clear when keeping secrets from the public and stop secrecy that Congress does not intend.

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Panel on Nonprofit Sector Makes Final Recommendations to Senate Committee

On June 22, the Panel on the Nonprofit Sector released its Final Report on reform for charities, saying the measures are "intended to strengthen the ability of the nation's 1.3 million charities and foundations to serve as responsible stewards of the public's generosity." The 116-page report, which makes over 120 recommendations in 15 areas of nonprofit governance and financial reporting, was well received by Senate Finance Committee Chair Charles Grassley (R-IA) and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Commissioner Mark Everson.

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OMB Report on Regulation Misguided, Misleading

An annual draft report from the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) misleads the public on regulatory safeguards and makes OMB appear poised to impose misguided anti-regulatory policies, OMB Watch and other public interest groups told the White House last week. About the Report

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Rhetoric Heats Up On Estate Tax as Political Reality Pushes Compromise

The Senate appears headed for another showdown on repeal of the estate tax, possibly before the August recess. With permanent repeal costing around $1 trillion over the first 10 years, there is discussion between Senate Republicans and Democrats on possible reform options. It is unclear whether these discussions on reform may turn into a back-door approach by pro-repeal groups to push through legislation that would amount to a virtual repeal of the estate tax.

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Senate Investigates the Program Assessment Rating Tool

On Tuesday, June 14 the Senate subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, and International Security held a hearing on accountability and results in federal budgeting. Specifically, the hearing was held to investigate the specific metrics and tools used by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to measure the effectiveness of federal programs, the advantages and disadvantages of using these systems of measurement, and how information obtained is used to increase accountability in federal budgeting.

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