Cost-benefit Analysis

Feb 8, 2016

Top 400 Taxpayers See Tax Rates Rise, But There’s More to the Story

As Americans were gathering party supplies to greet the New Year, the Internal Revenue Service released their annual report of cumulative tax data reported on the 400 tax r...

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Feb 4, 2016

Chlorine Bleach Plants Needlessly Endanger 63 Million Americans

Chlorine bleach plants across the U.S. put millions of Americans in danger of a chlorine gas release, a substance so toxic it has been used as a chemical weapon. Greenpeace’s new repo...

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Jan 25, 2016

U.S. Industrial Facilities Reported Fewer Toxic Releases in 2014

The Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) data for 2014 is now available. The good news: total toxic releases by reporting facilities decreased by nearly six percent from 2013 levels. Howe...

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Jan 22, 2016

Methane Causes Climate Change. Here's How the President Plans to Cut Emissions by 40-45 Percent.

UPDATE (Jan. 22, 2016): Today, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) released its proposed rule to reduce methane emissions...

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OMB Manipulates Science in Cost-Benefit Analysis for Ozone Rule

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released a cost-benefit analysis for a proposed rule aiming to tighten the federal standard for human exposure to ground-level ozone, also known as smog. Before its release, the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) edited scientific language in the analysis in order to downplay the economic benefits of the proposed rule.

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White House Attacks Benefits of Smog Reduction

Aug 2, 2007 by Matthew Madia

Frank O'Donnell at the Blog for Clean Air has posted on the latest in a series of White House efforts to undermine EPA smog regulations. This time, it's the rule's cost-benefit analysis, wherein the White House Office of Management and Budget tries to underplay the benefits of the rule by attacking the scientific consensus that smog reduction saves lives. Read the post from the Blog for Clean Air here: White House Tampers with EPA Smog Plan

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Questions Remain on Bush Changes to the Regulatory Process

Jul 30, 2007 by Matthew Madia

As of July 24, agencies are to be in full compliance with President Bush's recent changes to the regulatory process. But the American people remain in the dark in knowing how these changes will influence the way our government operates. A new analysis by OMB Watch reiterates our concerns with the changes, identifies the many questions that remain, and describes Congress's efforts to mitigate their impact through oversight hearings and proposed legislation. Read the analysis: E.O. 13422: Unanswered and Unaccountable

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Bush's Regulatory Changes Set to Go into Effect

As of today, July 24, federal agencies are to be in full compliance with all the provisions of Executive Order 13422 (E.O. 13422), which amends the regulatory process for agencies, and the Final Bulletin for Agency Good Guidance Practices. Both documents were issued Jan. 18 and work in concert to bring significant changes to the way agencies develop and enforce public protections.

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OMB Watch Analysis Raises Questions about Changes to Regulatory Process that Go into Effect Today

WASHINGTON, July 24, 2007—On Jan. 18, 2007, President Bush issued Executive Order 13422, which amends Executive Order 12866, Regulatory Planning and Review. The same day, the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued its Final Bulletin for Agency Good Guidance Practices. The two executive directives work in concert to alter the ways federal agencies develop and enforce regulations. As of today, agencies are to be in full compliance with the provisions of the executive order and the Final Bulletin.

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EPA Suspends Fish Kill Rule

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has suspended a fish protection rule in response to a January court decision. The decision vacated parts of the rule, which White House officials had edited and weakened. EPA will now have to begin a new round of rulemaking in order to address the ecological problem.

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House Votes to Stop Funding for Bush's Regulatory Changes

The House passed an appropriations bill June 28 that prevents parts of the executive branch from spending Fiscal Year 2008 funds on the implementation of President George W. Bush's controversial executive order amending the regulatory process. The Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, FY 2008, (H.R. 2829) was amended by voice vote late on the night of June 27 and was passed the next day. The bill provides funding for everything from the Treasury Department and the Executive Office of the President to the Federal Election Commission and the U.S. Tax Court.

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House Moves to Curb Bush Regulatory Power Grab

Jul 3, 2007 by Matthew Madia

Last week, the House passed the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations bill (HR 2829). The bill contains an amendment which would forbid the White House from expending any funds in implementing President Bush's recent changes to the regulatory process.

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House Energy Legislation is a Big Disappointment

Jun 29, 2007 by Matthew Madia

The House Energy and Commerce Committee has finished round one of its comprehensive energy legislation efforts. Unlike the Senate, the House version does not include an increase in CAFE standards, the national program for vehicle fuel efficiency. Republicans pushed for improved CAFE standards, but Democrats defeated their efforts. Leading the charge was auto industry lobbyist veteran Michigan Democrat, Congressman John Dingell. According to Reuters, in its current form the bill would:

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Mandatory Cost-Benefit Analysis Fouls Senate Energy Bill

Jun 22, 2007 by Matthew Madia

You have likely read in your morning paper that late yesterday the Senate passed major energy legislation. News reports tout the accomplishments of Democrats in fending off industry influence and mandating an increase in CAFE standards — the national program regulating passenger vehicle fuel efficiency.

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