Government Matters Articles

DHS Seeks Exemptions From Public Disclosure Requirements

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is looking to hide Environmental Impact Statements (EIS), partially or in whole, from public disclosure. A June 14 directive published in the Federal Register would exempt the agency from a number of requirements under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

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State Department Releases New Terrorism Death Count, Corrects Flawed Data

The State Department released drastically higher numbers for terrorism-related deaths June 22, after the administration used the original April report to claim the war on terrorism is succeeding. Government officials cited outdated computers and personnel shortages as the reasons for the flawed data, according to the Washington Post. The revised report identifies 625 deaths from terrorist attacks, more than double the original report's number of 307. The 1,593 injuries jumped to 3,646, "significant" incidents went up by five, and all incidents increased from 190 to 208.

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FBI Used Controversial Patriot Act Provision

The FBI applied to use a section of the USA Patriot Act less than a month after Attorney General John Ashcroft stated it had never been used, according to new documents. Section 215 allows the government to track the public's reading habits in bookstores and libraries and seize an organization's computers, files and "any material thing" as part of an ongoing investigation.

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Appropriations Still Unknown

The appropriations process for FY 2005 doesn't lend itself well to periodic updates on which bills have been passed and who the winners and losers are. No one is even pretending that the House and Senate will debate and pass any of the 13 separate appropriations bills, or reconcile the two versions in conference -- the normal budget process. Rather, it has been clear from the start that an impossibly tight budget in an election year will dictate the process.

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Education in the U.S. Leaves Many Children Behind

A number of reports have been issued recently revealing cuts for next year in federal spending for education, including Pell Grants for college students, adult and vocational education, and Head Start, and ongoing inadequate funding for the Bush "No Child Left Behind" Act and special education.

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Tax and Spend?

In an effort to restore spending in ten critical areas and lower the deficit, Rep. David Obey (D-WI) offered a resolution (H. Res. 685) on Thursday, June 24, to invest $14.2 billion in key domestic priorities and $4.7 billion towards reducing the deficit. The total $18.9 billion would be fully offset by limiting tax breaks to those making over $1 million a year.

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Congress Mulls Secrecy on Several Fronts

Those who care about American's right to know would do well to keep eyes peeled on recent congressional action. Proposals to amend the USA Patriot Act and spending bills are at the center of congressional debate over openness in government. In that debate, which pits the doctrine of reauthorization of federalism against the government's penchant for secrecy, the Senate added a provision to a $350 billion transportation bill (H.R. 3550) that would preempt state and local sunshine laws in order to mandate secrecy about public safety problems in aviation, rail and other transportation systems.

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Bush Administration Refuses Congress Again, Hides Memos

Last week, Attorney General John Ashcroft testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee and repeatedly refused several Senators' requests to produce a copy of the recently leaked Justice Department memo that explored the legal justifications for torture.

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Nonprofit News Briefs

* June 22 hearing on nonprofits at the Senate Finance Committee * House Bill on IRS Rollovers * Emily's List asks the Federal Election Commission to reconsider its controversial Advisory Opinion 2003-37 Senate Finance Committee Hearing

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Global Health Council Condemns HHS Funding Cut

Global Health Council president and CEO, Dr. Nils Daulaire, used his keynote address at the organization's conference June 2 to sharply condemn the Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) April decision to cut funding for the event. Daulaire said that HHS "bowed to election-year political pressure." The Traditional Values coalition and other conservative groups had objected to the participation of two family-planning groups set to take part in the event. HHS claimed the funds were withdrawn because the Council was using them to lobby.

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