The Bush administration recently issued standards that will allow federal agencies to conduct fewer consultations under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) when considering timber sales and other forest thinning projects.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is seeking comments on an existing final regulation, Public Inspection of Exempt Organization Returns. The Internal Revenue Code section 6104(b) authorizes the IRS to make available to the public the returns required to be filed by exempt organizations. As part of the Department of Treasury’s continuing effort to reduce the paperwork and respondent burden it is inviting the general public to take this opportunity to comment. The comments submitted will be included in the request for the Office of Management and Budget’s approval.

On Nov. 18 the Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing, "America after 9/11: Freedom Preserved or Freedom Lost?” that focused on the PATRIOT Act and other post 9/11 policy impacts on civil liberties.

Nonprofits that are not exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the tax code will have to comply with new restrictions on using names of federal candidates in paid advertising. The Federal Election Commission (FEC) recently published a schedule of state-by-state dates for implementation for presidential and congressional primary and general elections.