Government Status: Open
Sep 19, 2011 by Sean Moulton
Late last week, the administration released a status report on their open government efforts over the past two and half years. Impressive progress has been made because of the hard work of public employees across the federal government.
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Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board Still AWOL
Apr 13, 2011 by Gavin Baker
Sens. Joe Lieberman (I-CT), Susan Collins (R-ME), and Daniel Akaka (D-HI) last week urged President Obama to revive the dormant Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board by nominating members to fill the board's vacancies.
read in fullNo News is Big News at the FEC
Mar 17, 2011 by Jessica Randall
The news out of yesterday's Federal Election Commission (FEC) meeting is that there is, yet again, no news to report. The FEC has delayed a final vote on an advisory opinion which was jointly requested by the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, the Republican National Committee, the National Republican Senatorial Committee, and the National Republican Congressional Committee. If this stalemate continues, it will be merely the latest in an unprecedented string of partisan deadlocks.
read in fullPATRIOT Act Provisions Get Three-Month Extension, But Nearly Lose Funding
Feb 18, 2011 by Gavin Baker
The House voted yesterday to agree to the Senate's three-month extension of expiring PATRIOT Act provisions. The President is expected to sign the bill before Feb. 28, when the current provisions expire.
read in fullCongress Headed for PATRIOT Act Debate This Year
Feb 16, 2011 by Gavin Baker
The Senate voted yesterday to extend expiring provisions of the PATRIOT Act until May 27. The House had voted to extend the provisions until December 8; today, the House agreed to consider the Senate version. The House and Senate have to agree before Feb. 28 or the provisions will expire.
read in fullThe Fine Print Is Now Available on Kindle
Dec 13, 2010 by Brian Gumm
The Fine Print is now available for Kindle users via Amazon.com. According to Amazon, "Kindle Blogs are auto-delivered wirelessly to your Kindle and updated throughout the day so you can stay current. It's risk free — all Kindle Blog subscriptions start with a 14-day free trial. You can cancel at any time during the free trial period." Additionally, blogs on Kindle give you full-text content and images. A Fine Print subscription for Kindle users is just $1.99 per month, and a portion of the proceeds go to OMB Watch.
read in fullFEC Approves Coordination Rule
Aug 27, 2010 by Amanda Adams*
With a 5-1 vote, the Federal Election Commission (FEC) approved a rule on coordinated communications, to regulate messages that are the "functional equivalent of express advocacy" for or against candidates. This "functional equivalent" language comes from the 2007 Supreme Court decision in Wisconsin Right to Life Inc. v. FEC.
read in fullReport Urges the IRS to Improve Enforcement and Oversight of 527s
Aug 25, 2010 by Amanda Adams*
The Treasury Department's Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) released a report calling on the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to improve oversight of 527 tax-exempt political organizations that do not file timely or complete reports. According to the findings, one out of every four report that was reviewed in the audit had incomplete or missing contributor or recipient information. By aggressively fining groups for filing late or incomplete forms, the IRS could collect $5.3 million.
read in fullStatement of Commissioners Highlights Leniency of FEC Disclosure Rules
Aug 20, 2010 by Amanda Adams*
Earlier this week, the three Republican members of the Federal Election Commission (FEC) released a statement of reasons explaining their votes in May to dismiss a case against a no longer active 501(c)(4) group, Freedom's Watch.
read in fullLegislation to Overhaul Public Funding for Presidential Campaigns
Aug 4, 2010 by Amanda Adams*
Legislation has been introduced in the House and Senate (H.R. 6061 and S. 3681) to revise the outdated presidential public campaign financing system. Seeking to encourage smaller individual contributions, the bill would match small contributions of $200 or less with public funds at a 4-to-1 ratio.
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