Open, Accountable Government

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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more news

Data Quality Act Progresses in the Courts

The debate over whether the Data Quality Act (DQA) is judicially reviewable might be getting closer to an end. The federal judge reviewing an industry DQA lawsuit questioned whether the statutory language provides for such review during oral arguments Sept. 3.

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Audit of Sensitive Security Information Requested

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) received a request from two House members last week, asking for an investigation into the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) use of the "sensitive security information" (SSI) provisions. SSI receives protected status, which shields it from public disclosure.

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Health Effects and Misinformation Drive 9/11 Suit

Leaseholders of the World Trader Center now face a suit from recovery workers, after hundreds of thousands of people were exposed to toxics immediately after the 9/11 attacks. This comes at the same time that a report reveals the government has not monitored or studied people suffering adverse health effects from 9/11.

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Homeland Security Whistleblowers Work Together

Homeland security whistleblowers recently joined together in two different efforts. One group of whistleblowers issued a memo calling upon other government officials to come forward with information on mismanagement and deception. Another group released a letter criticizing the 9/11 commission's report for not attaching accountability to specific individuals. Call to Whistleblowers

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Study Finds Nuclear Facilities Vulnerable to Attack

Access to information on nuclear security has been hard to come by, but some information has been surfacing that raises concerns about the security of America's nuclear power plants. Since 9/11, nuclear reactors and chemical plants have received considerable attention with critics calling for stronger government requirements and oversight to better ensure the safety of neighboring communities.

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Waxman Introduces Open Government Bill

Open government advocates, who have suffered for years in defensive efforts to hold back a rising tide of secrecy, just got something to cheer about. Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA) introduced a bill last week to make it easier for citizens to challenge agency denials under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) in court. The legislation would also reverse several policies and practices tied most closely to the Bush administration that undermine open government.

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Congressional Report Cites Growing Bush Secrecy

Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA) released a report last week detailing the vast expansion of secrecy and restrictions in public access to government information under the Bush administration. The Special Investigations Division of the House Government Reform Committee's minority staff prepared the report, "Secrecy in the Bush Administration," for Waxman.

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Congress Defies White House, Saves Overtime for Millions

Both the Senate Appropriations Committee and the House of Representatives have defied a White House veto threat and voted to save overtime rights for millions of workers.

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Return of a 'CYA' Budget Policy

The long-ago defeated proposal for a balanced budget constitutional amendment is rearing its ugly head once again. Unable to pass a budget this year and having created near-record deficits, some members of the House are desperate to create the appearance of being fiscally responsible, and are considering bringing up a vote on the measure (H. J. RES. 22).

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Economy and Jobs Watch: Cyclically Adjusted Deficit Reaches Record High

The cyclically adjusted deficit -- that is, the deficit adjusted to remove economic fluctuations -- reached an all-time high of $374 billion in 2004 according to a new report by the Congressional Budget Office. As a share of the overall economy, the cyclically adjusted deficit at 3.2 percent of GDP is at its highest levels since the early 1990's -- and has been exceeded in only 7 of the last 42 years (see chart below.)

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