Press Room
Center for Effective Government Supports Reintroduction of the DATA Act
May 22, 2013
WASHINGTON, May 22, 2012—The Center for Effective Government welcomed the reintroduction of a revised version of the Digital Accountability and Transparency Act, or DATA Act, in both the House and Senate this week. The Center for Effective Government commended Sens. Mark Warner (D-VA) and Rob Portman (R-OH) and Reps. Darrell Issa (R-CA) and Elijah Cummings (D-MD) for working together on this important legislation. The DATA Act will provide an unprecedented level of transparency and create critical new tools to track and analyze federal spending and hold officials accountable for their decisions.
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Center for Effective Government Welcomes New Executive Order on Transparency
May 9, 2013
WASHINGTON, May 9, 2013— Today, President Obama signed an executive order on data and information transparency. Titled "Making Open and Machine Readable the New Default for Government Information," the order was accompanied by an Office of Management and Budget (OMB) memo detailing the new policy and its implementation. The policy is intended to make public information more open and more easily accessible to the American people.
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Interactive Map Details Anhydrous Ammonia Facilities, Accidents Nationwide
May 7, 2013
WASHINGTON, May 7, 2013—The Center for Effective Government released an interactive map, data table, and analysis detailing anhydrous ammonia facilities and accidents nationwide, following up on concerns about the fertilizer plant explosion in West, Texas. Anhydrous ammonia was one of two chemicals stored in large quantities at the West plant and can pose serious risks to human life and health if explosions, fires, or other accidents release it into surrounding communities.
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Automatic Spending Cuts to Meals on Wheels Program Could Force 39,000 Seniors into Nursing Homes
Apr 30, 2013
WASHINGTON, April 30, 2013—In a report released today, the Center for Effective Government finds that sequestration's automatic spending cuts could force tens of thousands of American seniors into nursing homes, increasing Medicaid payments to nursing homes by $489 million each year. Across the country, seniors rely on Meals on Wheels to stay in their homes, but the program is slated for cuts under sequestration.
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Changes to Charitable Deduction, Federal Income Tax Rates Would Hurt Nonprofit Organizations
Apr 24, 2013
WASHINGTON, April 24, 2013—In an analysis released today, the Center for Effective Government finds that proposals to limit tax deductions for charitable giving and to consolidate and lower federal income tax rates would hurt nonprofit organizations. Both approaches would decrease Americans' incentives to give to their favorite charities.
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Two Federal Budget Plans Stray Far from Americans' Call for Public Investments in Crucial Services, Infrastructure
Apr 2, 2013
WASHINGTON, April 2, 2013—In a side-by-side analysis released today, the Center for Effective Government examines a set of congressional budget proposals and contrasts them with public support for specific areas of public investments. The analysis shows that while the American people strongly support maintaining or increasing funding for Social Security, Medicare, education, and road and bridge repair, two of the four budget plans stray far from the public's views.
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The Freedom of Information Act: Agencies Are Processing More Requests but Redacting More Often
Mar 13, 2013
WASHINGTON, March 13, 2013—In an analysis released today, the Center for Effective Government examined the performance of federal agencies in processing Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests in fiscal year 2012 and found agency response rates improved. At the same time, agencies are using the law's exemptions more often to hold back some information in the requests that are granted.
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Obama's Legacy of Transparency is Unfinished
Mar 10, 2013
WASHINGTON, March 10, 2013—In a report released today, the Center for Effective Government (formerly OMB Watch) examines the Obama administration's progress on open government during the president's first term. The review finds that the administration has issued important policy reforms, but that the implementation of White House policies has been inconsistent across federal agencies.
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Agency Attempts to Block Scientific Assessments of Toxic Chemicals
Jan 29, 2013
WASHINGTON, Jan. 29, 2013—In a report released today, the Center for Effective Government (formerly OMB Watch) documents attempts by the Office of Advocacy at the Small Business Administration to thwart important agency assessments of chemical toxicity at the behest of lobbyists for large chemical companies. No actual small businesses requested these interventions, according to the materials the Center for Effective Government obtained through Freedom of Information Act requests.
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Center for Effective Government Announces Launch
Jan 7, 2013
The leadership of OMB Watch announced that the organization has officially changed its name to the Center for Effective Government. The name change comes after careful deliberation and discussion and is designed to better reflect the goals and mission of the organization.
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