(View The Watcher in .html or .pdf format.) Regulatory Matters Bush's Midnight Rule Campaign Comes to a Close Transition at OIRA: What Kind of Change? Information and Access Justice Nominee May Bring Sunlight to Office of Legal Counsel Transparency Concerns Raised about EPA Nominee Department of Energy Proposes Eliminating 20-Year-Old Disclosure Test Federal Budget Oversight Report Highlights Lack of Transparency in TARP House Adopts Changes in New Rules Package Nonprofit Issues Associations Release Recommendations for Obama, Congress, to Strengthen Nonprofit Sector

Before the Memorial Day recess, the House of Representatives is expected to give priority to legislation aimed at increasing charitable giving, but the Ways and Means Committee will probably not consider the Charity Aid, Recovery, and Empowerment (CARE) Act passed by the Senate last month. House Majority Whip Ray Blunt (R-MO) and Rep. Harold Ford (D-TN) are expected to introduce a bill limited to giving incentives previously considered by the House.

On May 2 a special federal three-judge panel ruled some parts of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 (BCRA) unconstitutional, while upholding others. There is good news for nonprofits engaged in genuine issue advocacy, since the court struck down the blanket ban on broadcasts that refer to federal candidates within 60 days of a federal election or 30 days of a primary.

The Justice Department issued a directive on March 27th tightening their oversight of employee contact with Congress. Employees are directed to inform the Office of Legislative Affairs "ahead of time and as soon as possible - of all potential briefings on Capitol Hill and significant, substantive conversations with staff and members on Capitol Hill." This requirement would include phone calls. The office would clear Congressional contacts and liaison officials would accompany employees to briefings.