Data.gov Celebrates First Birthday with a Makeover

Happy Birthday, Dear Data.gov!The website that currently stores thousands of databases containing federal agency information received a welcome makeover last week as its first birthday present.  Since its launch last year, the Data.gov has sparked a national and global movement amongst governments interested in increasing their transparency.

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Obama Requests Tool for the Wrong Job

President Obama has proposed to Congress "a new, expedited tool to reduce unnecessary or wasteful spending," lining up on the side of so-called fiscal conservatives to enhance the Executive's ability to force Congress to vote on measures that cut federal spending.

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FDA Proposals Advance the Transparency Agenda

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today began a public comment period for 21 transparency proposals the agency is considering. The proposals are part of a larger report the FDA issued on Wednesday. From the FDA:

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House Committee Approves DISCLOSE Act

With a 5-3 vote, the Committee on House Administration approved an amended version of the DISCLOSE Act (Democracy is Strengthened by Casting Light on Spending in Elections), H.R. 5175. The committee adopted a manager's amendment offered by Chairman Robert Brady (D-PA), and incorporated additional changes voted on during the meeting.

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Could These Corporate Failures Have Been Prevented?

In a new blog post written for The Huffington Post, OMB Watch Executive Director Gary Bass finds similarities among the BP oil spill, the Massey Energy mine explosion, and Toyota's massive vehicle recall. "In each instance, businesses with poor safety records have continued to operate in a system of voluntary regulation," Bass writes.

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EPA and DHS Order BP to Stop Hiding Oil Spill Information

Today the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) took steps to increase the transparency of the response to BP's catastrophic oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. The oil company's actions have been criticized for failing to disclose or monitor important information about the spill, including the quantity of oil erupting into the Gulf, the potential health impacts of the oil and the chemicals used to disperse it, and water and air quality information. The actions by EPA and DHS, although belated, are needed, welcome, and hopefully portend a higher standard for transparency that is enduring and comprehensive, not limited to responses to colossal disasters.

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Americans United Files IRS Complaint Against L.A. Church for Electioneering Through Social Media

Americans United for the Separation of Church and State filed a complaint with the Internal Revenue Service against Oasis Church in Los Angeles. Americans United alleges that the church encouraged visitors to its website and followers on Twitter to support a specific political candidate.

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Broad Opposition to Bill Targeting Climate Rules

Despite broad opposition, a vote is expected soon on a Senate resolution that aims to prevent any Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulation of climate changing emissions by overturning the agency’s finding that greenhouse gases are a danger to human health and the environment.

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Could These Corporate Failures Have Been Prevented?

In recent months, failures at BP's Deepwater Horizon Gulf of Mexico facility injured and likely killed 11 oil rig workers and spawned an unprecedented environmental catastrophe; an explosion at Massey Energy's Upper Big Branch mine in West Virginia killed 29 miners; and a recall of millions of Toyota vehicles occurred after an acceleration defect was linked to injuries and deaths. These events have a few things in common, not the least of which is that they all illustrate a governmental failure to effectively regulate business activity and protect the public.

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Groups Increase Election Ad Spending and Candidates Spend Less

As observers monitor whether the Supreme Court decision in Citizens United v. FEC will have an affect on spending in the 2010 election, recent news indicates that regardless if it's because of the ruling, spending is increasing.

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