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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New GAO Report on Lobbyist Compliance with Disclosure Reporting

Oct 3, 2008 by Amanda Adams*

According to a report released Sept. 30 by the Government Accountability Office (GAO), "lobbyists could provide accurate supporting information—in either written or verbal form—on income or expenses for at least 95 percent of all first quarter reports filed that required this information." This was based on a random sampling of 100 clients chosen from the first-quarter reports. The report, Observations on Lobbyists' Compliance with New Disclosure Requirements," was required by the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act.

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Bush Taking Credit for Whale Rule He Delayed

Oct 2, 2008 by Matthew Madia

The long-awaited rule to protect the North Atlantic right whale is coming soon, according to President Bush himself. Speaking at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History on Friday, Bush briefly discussed the rule: "There are fewer than 400 North Atlantic Right Whales left in the world… And there are going to be new regulations that will be coming to be shortly that require ships to slow down as they approach seaports where these whales are likely to be."

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Did OMB Block Asbestos Cleanup in Montana Town?

Sep 29, 2008 by Matthew Madia

The White House Office of Management and Budget opposed EPA's efforts to clean up a Montana town contaminated by asbestos, according to a new report. EPA wanted to declare a public health emergency in the town of Libby in order to compel the removal of attic insulation threatening thousands of residents and to extend medical care to residents at risk.

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Whale Protection Rule Clears White House, 573 Days Later

Sep 25, 2008 by Matthew Madia

The White House has finally given approval to a rule that would protect the North Atlantic right whale, one of the planet's most critically endangered marine species.

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Lobbyists, Allies in Congress Work to Derail Greenhouse Gas Limits

With the support of special interest lobbyists, congressional Republicans are pushing legislation to hinder the federal government's ability to address climate change. Proposed legislation would halt early efforts by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to place new limits on greenhouse gas emissions.

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White House, EPA Protecting Rocket Fuel Polluters

Sep 22, 2008 by Matthew Madia

The Bush administration will continue to allow perchlorate, a chemical found primarily in rocket fuel, to pollute America's drinking water supply. Perchlorate has been found to disrupt thyroid functions in humans, and can be particularly dangerous for infants and children. Yet, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will pass on an upcoming opportunity to set a new limit for drinking water, according to The Washington Post.

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FEC Holds Hearing on Bundling Rule

Sep 18, 2008 by Amanda Adams*

The Federal Election Commission (FEC) held a hearing on how to implement a new requirement that all federal candidates, parties and political committees report any registered lobbyists or lobbying entities who engage in bundling of campaign contributions. The Honest Leadership and Open Government Act required the FEC to create a rule for the disclosure of bundled lobbyist contributions worth $15,000 or more.

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More Evidence of Harm on BPA, but FDA Unmoved

Sep 16, 2008 by Matthew Madia

Today, the Food and Drug Administration debated the safety and potential need for regulation of bisphenol-A (BPA), a common chemical used in hard plastics and the lining of food cans. There has already been one surprise at the long-awaited meeting: today, a group of scientists revealed the results of a study linking BPA exposure to heart disease and diabetes.

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Oral Argument in NAM Lobbying Disclosure Case

Sep 16, 2008 by Amanda Adams*

On September 12, 2008, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals heard oral argument in National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) v. Taylor. NAM is challenging a provision (Section 207) in the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act (HLOGA) that requires a lobbying coalition to disclose members that fund and actively participate in the coalition's lobbying efforts. NAM's argues that the HLOGA provision violates the First Amendment and is unconstitutionally vague.

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FEC to Vote on Proposed Bundling Rule

Sep 11, 2008 by Amanda Adams*

The Federal Election Commission (FEC) will hold a public hearing Sept. 17 on proposed bundling rules for reporting contributions bundled by lobbyists, lobbying organizations, and the political action committees of lobbyists. The FEC will hear from some of those who commented in writing on the proposed rule issued Nov. 2007.

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