Setting and Enforcing Regulations

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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The Sunset Commission Would Promote More Cronyism in Washington

Rather than establishing an objective means for evaluating and reorganizing government, the sunset commission proposal would open the door to more backroom lobbying by special interests and close the door to public participation.

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Sunset Commission Threatens Separation of Powers

By placing broad reorganization authority in an unelected body chosen by the White House and muzzling congressional debate on reorganization or termination recommendations, the sunset commission proposal would usurp the authority of democratically elected representatives and override the constitutional separation of powers.

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The New Standard: "Unelected Panel Could Guide Federal Budget Ax"

In-depth coverage from The New Standard

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The "Sound Science" Smokescreen

May 3, 2006 by Guest Blogger

Be sure to check out the new Knight-Ridder piece examining the strategic deployment of the term "sound science" to achieve decidedly political aims. Here's a taste: The Bush administration, senators, industrialists and farmers repeatedly invoke the term "sound science" to delay or deep-six policies they oppose and dismiss criticism of those they favor.

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Sunset Commissions Could Be Folded Into Budget Process Reform

Hill sources indicate that sunset commission proposals could move through the House by riding onto a package of budget process reforms. Ever since the revelation that House leadership conceded to the Republican Study Committee's demands for a guaranteed floor vote on sunset commission proposals, the key question for many has been what legislative vehicle will be used to fulfill that promise.

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Needed Health and Safety Regulations Left Idle on Agency 'To-Do' Lists

With the release of their Spring 2006 regulatory agendas on Apr. 24, federal agencies once again relegate important health and safety protections to the back burner.

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Backgrounder: Federal Programs on the Chopping Block

Learn more about the sunset commission proposals with this three-page backgrounder which walks through the technical details of the proposals. Download the backgrounder, "Federal Programs on the Chopping Block: Radical Proposals for 'Sunset Commissions' Set to Move in the House." Or click here for a quick one-page overview of the threat.

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Spring 2006 Unified Agenda Now Available

Apr 25, 2006 by Guest Blogger

Agencies released their Spring 2006 regulatory agendas on Monday, April 24. To get the low-down on the agencies’ plans for the coming six months and what they accomplished in the last six month period, go to the Federal Register.

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About Sunset Commissions: Putting Federal Programs on the Chopping Block

Proposals are gathering steam in the 109th Congress for "sunset commissions" -- forcing federal programs to plead for their lives before an unelected commission with the power to recommend whether they live or die. Proposals for sunset commissions have been introduced several times over the last ten years, but they have rarely advanced beyond the occasional courtesy hearing. In the 109th Congress, not only have several members of Congress introduced sunset bills, but also the White House itself released its own proposal.

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Rolling Stone Magazine: "Bush's Most Radical Plan Yet"

Read Rolling Stone magazine's in-depth background feature on the White House proposal that galvanized efforts to create "sunset commissions." Click here for the article, from the April 21, 2005 issue of Rolling Stone. BONUS: The conversation with Rolling Stone's reporter continued online. Read online exchanges with the reporter, and more material on sunsets that didn't make it into the article, from The Booman Tribune, also re-posted on The Daily Kos.

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