Government Matters Articles

Internal Revenue Service Scales Back EITC Certification Plan

Initial Internal Revenue Service (IRS) plans to "pre-certify" certain recipients of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) have come under considerable criticism by advocates during the past few months. After agreeing to allow a comment period on the process and the forms, the IRS substantially modified the program. See the IRS press release.

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State Budget Cuts - From the Ridiculous to the Tragic

A random Internet search reveals the extent of state budget cuts -- from the ridiculous to the horrific, from frugal penny-pinching to measures that may be penny-wise but are ultimately pound-foolish.

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States Struggle to Fund Medicaid

Health care for low-income and disabled people is being slashed as states face their third consecutive year of fiscal crisis. In 2003, almost every state legislature cut benefits, eligibility, or payments to health care providers, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. In March of 2003, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities estimated that based on proposed or recently enacted legislation, 1.7 million people would lose coverage, and many others will lose various health benefits such as prescription drugs, dental, vision, and home health care even though they remain insured.

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Disturbing Pattern Emerging on Government Budget Analyses

When it comes to federal tax and budget policy, it is essential that good forecasts and good estimates exist on the effects of policy options. Unfortunately, the current administration is showing a propensity to conceal and selectively release budget information when it suits their narrow political agenda.

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Economy and Jobs Watch: More Weakness in GDP and Employment

Output data shows some sign of life, but the labor market continues to be weak.

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EPA Misinformation Could Pose Health Risks for the Public

The Inspector General’s office at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is investigating whether EPA mislead the public by stating in recent reports that 94 percent of community water systems met all health-based standards in 2002. EPA data directly contradicts the claim and reveals that the actual number could be much lower – only 79 to 84 percent of systems.

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With Patriot III tour planned, Congress & lawsuits challenge Patriot Act

The Patriot Act faced serious challenges recently from Congress and the courts in what some are calling a turning point in the debate over the controversial law. Meanwhile, after running into attacks for Patriot II, Attorney General John Ashcroft plans a roadshow to gather support for Patriot III, legislation being prepared by Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) that would further expand the federal government's powers.

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Support for 1st amendment rights grows, poll finds

Public support for the First Amendment has returned to levels that existed prior to the September 11 attacks, a poll by the First Amendment Center finds. The poll, conducted annually by the Center, finds that 34 percent of Americans agree or strongly agree that the rights conferred on the public under the First Amendment "go too far," down from 49 percent a year ago. In addition, the poll indicates that nearly half of all Americans believe that the public has too little information about the government's efforts to fight terrorism.

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Senators and Secretive Saudis Ask US to Declassify 9/11 Report

Pressure is mounting on Capitol Hill to declassify the blanked out 28-page section of the congressional joint report on intelligence failures before and after the events of September 11, 2001. Nearly half of the members of the U.S. Senate called on the administration to declassify more of the report. According to the Federation of American Scientists' Secrecy News, 46 senators signed a letter asking the Administration to declassify the 28 pages. This letter comes after Sens. Bob Graham (D-FL) and Richard Shelby (R-AL) vocally pushed to make more of the report available to the public.

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Report Documents Administration's Political Interference with Science

The Democratic staff of the House Committee on Government Reform recently released a report examining the Bush administration’s handling of scientific matters -- finding in many cases, that scientific integrity has been sacrificed to further a political or ideological agenda. The report, which came at the request of Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA), finds “numerous instances where the administration has manipulated the scientific process and distorted or suppressed scientific findings.” For example:

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