Freedom of Information

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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Weaker Campaign Finance Limits Increase Need for Effective Disclosure

On April 2, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on McCutcheon vs. Federal Election Commission, striking down aggregate limits on the contributions that individuals can give to political candidates. Coupled with the court's earlier rulings that loosened restrictions on corporate spending on election ads, this decision makes comprehensive and timely disclosure of campaign spending even more important. Voters should be able to see who is financing campaigns.

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VIDEO: Rachel Maddow Show Features Interactive Schools and Chemical Facilities Map

On April 17, 2014, Rachel Maddow closed out her show with a focus on the one-year anniversary of the West, Texas fertilizer plant explosion. Explaining the need for stronger chemical safety and security standards in Texas and across the nation, Maddow also featured our new interactive map that shows schools within one mile of risky chemical facilities in every state in the U.S.

Check out the clip below to watch Maddow demonstrate our map in action!

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Interactive Map: Students, Others at Risk from Hazardous Chemical Facilities

Apr 17, 2014 by Sofia Plagakis

One in ten American schoolchildren study within one mile of a potentially dangerous chemical facility, according to the Center for Effective Government's latest interactive map, which we released yesterday. A year ago, the fertilizer facility explosion in West, TX, which destroyed one school and irreparably damaged two others, demonstrated the very real risk these facilities pose, especially to schools and students. Parents and community members need to better understand the risks these facilities pose and demand that facilities be as safe as possible.

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One Year after the West, Texas Explosion: Has Safety Improved?

Apr 17, 2014 by Sofia Plagakis

A year ago today, 15 Americans were killed and 200 injured in a fertilizer plant explosion in West, Texas that also destroyed surrounding schools, a nursing home, and residential buildings. The disaster raised serious questions about managing the risks that facilities can pose to local communities. A year later, we ask ourselves, are we any safer?

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One Year after West, Texas: One in Ten Students Attends School in the Shadow of a Risky Chemical Facility

WASHINGTON, April 16, 2014—One year after the fertilizer facility explosion in West, Texas, which destroyed and severely damaged nearby schools, an analysis by the Center for Effective Government finds that nearly one in ten American schoolchildren live and study within one mile of a potentially dangerous chemical facility.

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Preventing Chemical Disasters and Protecting Your Right to Know

Apr 11, 2014 by Sofia Plagakis

On March 31, the Center for Effective Government filed comments with the Interagency Working Group established under President Barack Obama's Executive Order 13650, Improving Chemical Facility Safety and Security. Our comments provide key recommendations to the Working Group that will help prevent chemical disasters and ensure that the public has information about the risks that chemical facilities pose to their communities.

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Medicare Releases Data on Payments to Physicians

Apr 9, 2014 by Gavin Baker

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services today released a trove of data on the agency's payments to physicians. This information has long been sought for its value in detecting and deterring fraud and waste.

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CEG Joins Brief in Case Challenging Secret Presidential Orders

Apr 9, 2014 by Gavin Baker

The Center for Effective Government joined Public Citizen and other open government groups on April 7 in filing an amicus brief in a key lawsuit under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). The case, Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) v. National Security Agency (NSA), could limit the public's ability to access documents that set policy for executive branch agencies.

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E-Gov Spotlight: Department of Labor's Enforcement Data Tool Provides Access to Worker Safety Information

During Workers' Memorial Day on April 28, the country will honor Americans who have died from a job-related illness or injury. Relevant to that commemoration is the Department of Labor's online enforcement database, which sheds light on safety enforcement actions and company performance in protecting workers from injury, illness, and death.

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Medicare Announces It Will Publish Payment Data

Apr 3, 2014 by Leslie Haymon

In a major win for transparency, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced on April 2 that it will release physician reimbursement data. This data, previously kept confidential, contains information about how much the federal government pays to most Medicare providers. The data will not compromise or disclose any patient privacy information.

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more resources

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

Chlorine Bleach Plants Needlessly Endanger 63 Million Americans

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

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

Weaker Campaign Finance Limits Increase Need for Effective Disclosure

VIDEO: Rachel Maddow Show Features Interactive Schools and Chemical Facilities Map

Interactive Map: Students, Others at Risk from Hazardous Chemical Facilities

Apr 17, 2014 by Sofia Plagakis

One Year after the West, Texas Explosion: Has Safety Improved?

Apr 17, 2014 by Sofia Plagakis

One Year after West, Texas: One in Ten Students Attends School in the Shadow of a Risky Chemical Facility

Preventing Chemical Disasters and Protecting Your Right to Know

Apr 11, 2014 by Sofia Plagakis

Medicare Releases Data on Payments to Physicians

Apr 9, 2014 by Gavin Baker

CEG Joins Brief in Case Challenging Secret Presidential Orders

Apr 9, 2014 by Gavin Baker

E-Gov Spotlight: Department of Labor's Enforcement Data Tool Provides Access to Worker Safety Information

Medicare Announces It Will Publish Payment Data

Apr 3, 2014 by Leslie Haymon

Pages

Living in the Shadow of Danger: Poverty, Race, and Unequal Chemical Facility Hazards

A Tale of Two Retirements: One for CEOs and One for the Rest of Us

Blowing Smoke: Chemical Companies Say “Trust Us,” But Environmental and Workplace Safety Violations Belie Their Rhetoric

Gasping for Support: Implementation of Tougher Air Quality Standards Will Require New Funds for State Agencies

Citizen Health & Safety Topics

Recent Reports

Living in the Shadow of Danger: State Scorecards

Living in the Shadow of Danger: Poverty, Race, and Unequal Chemical Facility Hazards

A Tale of Two Retirements: One for CEOs and One for the Rest of Us