The Coalition on Human Needs has developed a "Block Grant Chart."

The nation’s job market continues to struggle. In August, even though the unemployment rate improved slightly – falling from 6.2 to 6.1 percent – payroll employment fell by 93,000 jobs.

OMB Watch recently launched NPAction.org, an online resource that provides tools for nonprofit advocacy. NPAction is an attempt to better engage nonprofits in the policy processes that affect them, while strengthening the capacity of those already active. For the first time, nonprofit organizations will be able to access useful materials, read advice from seasoned advocates, and connect to decision-makers through one-stop access to a range of continuously updated content, information services, and reference tools. NPAction is the result of countless input from nonprofits across policy issues and geographic areas. It is supported by an national nonprofit advisory committee, and partner organizations like Charity Lobbying in the Public Interest.

The Bush administration recently eased emergency room standards in ways that may make it more difficult to receive medical care. Due to the administration’s changes:

• Patients may have trouble seeing specialists in a timely manner. The new measures give hospitals greater discretion in developing “on-call” lists for staffing emergency rooms. Doctors will now be permitted to be on-call simultaneously at more than one hospital and will be allowed to perform elective surgeries while on-call.
• Patients may be denied care by certain facilities.