The new Democratic leadership in Congress is urging transparency as a primary tool to reform the legislative process. According to statements from incoming House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and incoming Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), the leadership is planning several new rules and pieces of legislation on tracking earmarks, requiring time to read proposed legislation, and media access to conference committee activities - all with a central theme of increased congressional transparency.

Attorney General Alberto Gonzales issued a report last week to President Bush on the implementation of Executive Order 13392, which required agencies to establish Chief Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Officers and develop FOIA improvement plans to reduce backlogs and increase public access to highly sought-after government information. The report showers praise on agency improvement plans, in sharp contrast to an OpenTheGovernment.org review that found agencies failed to address important FOIA improvement areas.

High on Congress' agenda this week is legislation to authorize the National Security Agency's (NSA) Terrorist Surveillance Program (TSP). In the Senate, Judiciary Committee Chair Arlen Specter (R-PA) brokered a hollow compromise with moderate Republicans on the National Security Surveillance Act (S. 2453), increasing the likelihood of its passage. In the House, Rep. Heather Wilson's (R-NM) Electronic Surveillance Modernization Act (H.R. 5825) passed out of committee and is likely to see a floor vote this week. Both bills would legalize the warrantless surveillance program and provide exceptions to the judicial approval required by the Fourth Amendment and the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA).

InsideEPA, a Washington trade publication, reports that criticism from federal agency officials could prevent the Office of Management and Budget from finalizing a bulletin on risk assessments.

On Jan. 9, 2006, the OMB released a draft bulletin governing how agencies perform risk assessments. If enacted, the new standards would create a one-size-fits-all standard, requiring more information and analysis before agencies could act to protect the public.