Government Matters Articles

Post Election Analysis of 527s Dispels Myths, Shows Trends

The Campaign Finance Institute (CFI) held a briefing on Jan. 14 that provided a glimpse of findings in its soon to be published book The Election after Reform. In a special presentation on independent political committees (often referred to as 527s) CFI analyst Steve Weissman said these groups did not become substitutes for party soft money that could no longer be given to political parties under the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 (BCRA). The findings provided more detail on 527 groups based on data and interviews conducted after the election and compared with data from 2002.

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House Bill Calls for Agency Performance Ratings

A controversial bill that would require yet more burdensome analysis of regulatory and other government programs has resurfaced after passing the House but stalling in the Senate during the 108th Congress.

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EPA Assessment Finds Potential Risk to Humans in Teflon

While an Environmental Protection Agency draft risk assessment for a chemical compound used in the production of Teflon did find that exposure could lead to adverse health effects, EPA fell far short of condemning the chemical or its makers.

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New Forestry Rules Endanger Wildlife, Limit Public Participation

Three days before Christmas the U.S. Forest Service gave the timber and paper industry an early Christmas present, announcing a final rule that will drastically overhaul the U.S. Forest Service�s land management system.

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White House Meets with Industry to Plan Deregulatory Strategy

Over the past several months, the White House has met with industry representatives to develop a sweeping deregulatory strategy. The White House's Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) has given industry a leg-up on the upcoming reauthorization of the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). According to Inside EPA, OIRA has been working with a coalition of industry groups to strategize using the PRA reauthorization as a vehicle for developing new anti-regulatory policies.

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Expect Anti-Regulatory Bills in 109th Congress

When the 109th Congress reconvenes on Jan. 20, expect Republican lawmakers to continue work on anti-regulatory measures that will protect industry interests at the cost of the public interest. House Speaker Tom DeLay (R-TX) has repeatedly mentioned “universal regulatory reform” as one of several high-priority items for the 109th Congress’s agenda, and the House Government Reform Committee announced late last year that reauthorization of the Paperwork Reduction Act will be only one part of “a reform-focused legislative and oversight agenda that will streamline the federal government.”

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Bush Renominates Industry-Backed Radical Right-wingers to Federal Bench

Just two days before Christmas, the White House announced its intention to renominate to the federal bench 20 radical right-wing and corporate-friendly extremists whose nominations had been thwarted in the 108th Congress. The White House will be supported in this effort by both social conservatives, who see Bush nominees as friendly to conservative positions on controversial social issues like abortion, and the corporate sector, which is dedicating millions of dollars in an unprecedented lobbying effort on behalf of the Bush judicial picks. Safeguards at Stake

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White House Advances Anti-Regulatory Hit List

The White House waited until eight days before Christmas to reveal its new regulatory �reform� plan instructing agencies to review and complete action plans on a regulatory hit list of over 200 suggestions for reversing protections of the public interest, mostly proposed by industry lobbyists.

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Administration Will Step Up Faith-Based Efforts

Despite budget cuts for social service programs, Jim Towey, director of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives told a recent Pew Charitable Trusts conference on religion and social policy that the administration will push its faith-based agenda in the 109th Congress.

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Tsunami Relief Raises Earmarking Issues for Charities

The enormous outpouring of giving for victims of the tsunami disaster in Southeast Asia is bringing the role of nonprofits in international disaster relief into the public eye once again. Many donors are earmarking their contributions for tsunami relief, raising some concern that disaster relief needs in other areas of the world may suffer.

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