NPTalk: Community Technology Centers Policy Overview

Existing federal programs emphasize collaboration among important community-based and community-focused actors and institutions. Though popular among grant recipients and vital to program beneficiaries, the supporter base has not been effective in sustaining widespread support and visibility on the Hill around broader community technology policy goals and objectives.

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New Priorities and Future Tax Cuts

Kennedy, Daschle and their Republican counterparts have made clear over the last 4 months that the nation is now facing new problems (on top of existing problems) and we cannot afford a debate over semantics. Instead, we must address the problems laid out by Daschle and Kennedy over the last 2 weeks and by the President in his State of the Union address next week.

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Faith-Based Initiatives Working Group Report Released

Court Rules Unconstitutional Direct Grant to Faith Works Recommendations are, for the most part, in agreement with the positions of OMB Watch on faith-based issues.

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OMB Watch Launches First Issue of the Executive Report

This monthly report will provide an in-depth look at a variety of executive branch issues.

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EPA Seeks to Delay Pollution Cuts for Utilities

Though announcement serves as another example of how the Bush administration will cater to industry interests at the cost of public health, EPA spokesperson says it is not an attempt to roll back the rule.

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The Bush Administration Weakens Wetlands Rules

On January 14 the Army Corps of Engineers announced changes to several wetlands rules that will make it easier for developers, mining companies and others to qualify for general permits to dredge and fill wetlands, according to the Washington Post. This action comes on the heels of an October 2001 decision in which the Army Corps of Engineers issued a policy that allows developers to offset losses of wetlands on one site by protecting wetlands, or even dry land, elsewhere.

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Scalia Escapes Senate Confirmation to Become DOL Solicitor

As Solicitor, Scalia has jurisdiction over a wide range of legal and regulatory issues, ranging from mine safety and job training, to migrant workers and pension rights.

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Critical Infrastructure Information

OMB Watch is building a new website to serve as a central point of access to information on Critical Infrastructure Information.

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NPTalk: File Sharing Among Nonprofits

NPTalk considers some benefits, and costs, around peer-to-peer for organizations. "Peer-to-peer," an effort to broaden the network capacity of individual users by distributing the workload and access to files among individual users, has usually only been considered in the context of file sharing and attendant copyright issues. Should nonprofits be taking a "napster" on the technology, or are there applications which can serve as a wake-up call to the sector. NPTalk considers some benefits, and costs, around peer-to-peer for organizations.

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Judge Rules in Favor of Congressional Tool for Information Access

The ruling could have great implications, especially in light of the fact that The General Accounting Office (GAO) is preparing to sue Vice President Dick Cheney for information about the meetings of his energy task force.

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