Political Interference

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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House Oversight on Regulatory Process Changes: Part II

Apr 27, 2007 by Matthew Madia

Yesterday, the House Science and Technology Committee subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight held a long-awaited second hearing on President Bush's recent changes to the regulatory process. Much of the hearing focused on the role of the Regulatory Policy Officer (RPO) — a position with newly enhanced responsibilities.

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OIRA Instructs Agencies to Comply with Regulatory Process Changes

Apr 26, 2007 by Matthew Madia

Last night, the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) issued a memo instructing agencies on how to implement President Bush's recent changes to the regulatory process. The memo was the first missive by newly minted OIRA administrator Susan Dudley.

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Watch the Hearing Live

Apr 26, 2007 by Matthew Madia

As Reg•Watch blogged yesterday, the House Science and Technology Committee subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight will hold a hearing on President Bush's changes to the regulatory process. OMB Watch Executive Director Gary Bass will be testifying. Watch the hearing live starting at 10:00 a.m.

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House to Examine Regulatory Policy Officers

Apr 25, 2007 by Matthew Madia

On Thursday at 10:00 a.m., a House panel will examine President Bush's recent changes to the regulatory process. Gary Bass, Executive Director of OMB Watch, is scheduled to testify. The panel (the House Science and Technology Committee subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight) has looked at Bush's amendments to the regulatory process before, but this hearing will focus on the Regulatory Policy Officer (RPO) — a presidentially appointed regulatory taskmaster housed in each federal agency. Here are the basic facts on the RPO:

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House Lobby Reform by Memorial Day?

Apr 24, 2007 by Amanda Adams*

CQ ($$) reports that with any luck, the House lobbying reform bill will be complete by the end of May. "Democrats hope a leadership-endorsed bill will be introduced by the end of this week, but even the chairmen involved in drafting it say they don't yet have a clear idea of what will be in the measure or when it will pass." The article describes the areas of contention that have slowed down drafting the measure, including grassroots lobbying disclosure.

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EPA Pollutes Scientific Thought

Apr 24, 2007 by Matthew Madia

The EPA's Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC) is supposed to be a group of scientists who independently analyze standards for the implementation of the Clean Air Act. Those standards are integral in ensuring progressive air pollution limitations that embody the latest scientific and technological breakthroughs. As Reg•Watch has reported, CASAC recently recommended tighter standards for smog, much to the chagrin of industry and EPA brass.

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PDUFA Reauthorization Moving through Senate

Apr 19, 2007 by Matthew Madia

Yesterday, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee voted favorably to reauthorize the Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA). PDUFA allows FDA to collect money from the drug industry in order to pay for safety tests of new drugs. While this may sound like a good way for the government to raise funds, the money comes with strings attached. The drug industry, to some extent, dictates the timetable for drug approval.

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Latest Watcher

Apr 18, 2007 by Matthew Madia

Be sure to check out the latest issue of our biweekly newsletter, The Watcher. Regulatory policy articles this time: Recess Appointment Makes Dudley Head of White House Regulatory Policy Office Courts Rebuke Bush Administration's Forest Actions EPA Issues another Delay in Contaminant Regulation

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Dangerous Drivers Keep on Truckin'

Apr 18, 2007 by Matthew Madia

An editorial in today's Washington Post revisits the issue of truck driver safety. Last month's deadly crash on the Capital Beltway showed us how easy it is for delinquent drivers to slip through the system. The editorial chides the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration for lax enforcement: States get away with filing tardy, incomplete and faulty data, there are still opportunities for fraud in obtaining commercial driver's licenses, and testing and training standards need stiffening.

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PDUFA-mania

Apr 17, 2007 by Matthew Madia

Today, a House panel held a hearing examining the reauthorization of the Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA). PDUFA forces the drug industry to pay for safety studies of new drugs, but also allows the industry to dictate timelines for approval. Some members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee subcommittee on Health expressed concern about the influence industry can exert through user fees. However, the general tenor of the hearing was that of assuming Congress would reauthorize PDUFA, and user fees would actually increase.

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