OMB Watch announces the pilot launch of NPAction, a new online resource for nonprofit advocacy. NPAction is being developed as a vibrant central advocacy hub that provides nonprofits access to information about rules governing policy participation, examples of successful and unsuccessful efforts, and identification of key resources. Our goal is to increase the awareness of groups already engaged in public policy participation, and to, thereby, enhance opportunities for building communities of interest among new and emerging and existing public policy participators. We are working live behind the scenes to continuously improve our offerings. Nonprofits are therefore encouraged to actively explore what's available, suggest their own ideas for resources to add, and provide comments on our work to date. Visit NPAction today!

Despite hard economic times, states are continuing to invest resources to increase government's capacity to deliver services online. But how effectively can digital government engage citizens who are often marginalized from, if not entirely left out of, civic participation, especially young people? Findings from an informative UK study provide useful insights for states to consider in their digital growth. More here…

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is currently seeking comment on a proposed rule (published Sept. 19) that would require mutual fund companies to publicly disclose documents related to proxy voting, in which the company votes as a shareholder on behalf of mutual fund owners.

If the CARE Act on charitable giving is not passed in the lame duck session, it will have to be re-introduced in the next Congress, and re-considered by the Senate Finance Committee, which as a result of last week's elections, will have a new Republican chairman, Sen. Charles Grassley (IA).