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...

read in full

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...

read in full

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...

read in full

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...

read in full

more news

EPA Delays Rule Targeting Lead Paint in Homes

Jun 23, 2010 by Matthew Madia

Responding to political pressure, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will push back enforcement of a new rule intended to protect homeowners and occupants from exposure to lead paint.

read in full

Obama Blocks Lobbyists from Government Panels

Jun 18, 2010 by Matthew Madia

Today, President Obama issued a memo barring registered lobbyists from serving on federal advisory committees, boards, and commissions.

read in full

Obama Addresses Food Safety Concerns in the Gulf

Jun 15, 2010 by Matthew Madia

The Obama administration is attempting to reassure Americans that seafood from the Gulf of Mexico is safe to eat amid the BP-Deepwater Horizon oil spill disaster. President Obama discussed food safety yesterday during a trip to the Gulf. "Let me be clear: Seafood from the Gulf today is safe to eat," Obama said.

read in full

As Senate Defeats Challenge to Climate Finding, EPA Faces Additional Trials

Earth Opponents of climate change regulation are attempting to dismantle the regulatory framework the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has crafted thus far under the Obama administration. The Senate unsuccessfully attempted to overturn a scientific determination in which the agency found that greenhouse gases threaten public health and welfare. However, EPA still faces court challenges by industry groups on regulations limiting emissions from both vehicles and industrial sources.

read in full

Senate Debates Risk of Greenhouse Gases; Gulf of Mexico Unavailable for Comment

Jun 10, 2010 by Matthew Madia

The Senate is currently debating a resolution that would overturn the Environmental Protection Agency’s finding that greenhouse gases pose a threat to public health and the environment. The finding also sets the stage for regulations to improve fuel efficiency and limit emissions. A vote is expected around 4:00 p.m.

Update: The resolution was defeated in a 47-53 vote.

read in full

Congress Weakening Auto Safety Bill at Industry’s Behest

Jun 8, 2010 by Matthew Madia

Congressional Democrats are already watering down legislation that would require better safety features in new cars, the Washington Post reports today. Auto industry lobbyists are finding sympathy in the House of Representatives, where lawmakers are preparing to consider an auto safety bill crafted in response to the fiasco surrounding recalled Toyota vehicles.

read in full

Will USDA’s Food Safety Agency Ever Have a Leader?

Jun 3, 2010 by Matthew Madia

Food Safety News reports today that there is no timetable for moving the nomination of Elisabeth Hagen to the Senate floor. Hagen, currently the chief medical officer at USDA, is the nominee to lead the Food Safety and Inspection Service, the USDA agency responsible for ensuring the safety of meat and poultry products.

read in full

"Shadow Congress": 172 Former Lawmakers Now Lobbyists

Jun 2, 2010 by Amanda Adams*

TPM Muckraker has found that 172 former members of Congress currently work as lobbyists, regarding this system as "the Shadow Congress." TPM notes that "over the last few decades, a vast army of what might be called uber-lobbyists has taken shape in the capital, made up of retiring lawmakers eager to cash in on K Street after a lifetime of making do with public sector salaries."

read in full

Obama Administration Starts Reforms at MMS

In the wake of the worst oil spill disaster in the country's history, the Obama administration has begun to restructure the federal agency charged with the development of energy resources and oversight of the oil and gas industry. Critics argue the changes do not go far enough.

read in full

Commentary: Changes to Coal Ash Proposal Place Utility's Concerns above Public Health

An internal administration document shows the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) may have weakened a proposal to regulate toxic coal ash at the behest of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), owner of a Kingston, TN, power plant where a dam break spilled 5.4 million cubic yards of coal ash in 2008.

read in full