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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OMB Manipulates Science in Cost-Benefit Analysis for Ozone Rule

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released a cost-benefit analysis for a proposed rule aiming to tighten the federal standard for human exposure to ground-level ozone, also known as smog. Before its release, the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) edited scientific language in the analysis in order to downplay the economic benefits of the proposed rule.

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Plastics Make It Possible?

Aug 3, 2007 by Matthew Madia

Several new documents raise concern over the safety of the chemical Bisphenol-A, according to The Los Angeles Times. Bisphenol-A (BPA) is a widely-used compound found in hard plastics including baby bottles and drink containers. Despite its ubiquity, federal agencies have done little to study its effects or regulate its use.

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Bush & Lobby/Ethics Reform -- See:Yellowcake File

Aug 3, 2007 by Dana Chasin

Some people regard the lobbying and ethics bill passed by Congress yesterday as the most significant congressional reform measure adopted in years. Bloomberg reported yesterday that "The U.S. Senate passed legislation that lawmakers said will provide the most sweeping changes in ethics rules in a generation."

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Lobbying/Ethics Bill Passes: Earmarks and the Unthinkable

Aug 2, 2007 by Amanda Adams*

This afternoon, the Senate passed the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007, by a vote of 83-14. Among the significant reforms included in the bill are the following earmarks disclosure requirements:

all earmarks in bills, resolutions, conference reports and managers' statements must be identified and posted on the internet at least 48 hours before a vote
Senators must certify that they and their immediate family will not financially benefit from any earmarks they've requested

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White House Attacks Benefits of Smog Reduction

Aug 2, 2007 by Matthew Madia

Frank O'Donnell at the Blog for Clean Air has posted on the latest in a series of White House efforts to undermine EPA smog regulations. This time, it's the rule's cost-benefit analysis, wherein the White House Office of Management and Budget tries to underplay the benefits of the rule by attacking the scientific consensus that smog reduction saves lives. Read the post from the Blog for Clean Air here: White House Tampers with EPA Smog Plan

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OSHA Addresses Diacetyl Exposure

Aug 1, 2007 by Matthew Madia

Diacetyl is a component of the artificial butter flavoring found in microwave popcorn. Exposure during the manufacturing process can cause a lung disease called bronchiolitis obliterans which reduces quality of life and causes premature mortality. Unfortunately, the disease has acquired the moniker "popcorn workers lung." While Congress is pushing for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to issue a new regulation, the agency has taken a positive (albeit belated) step by examining regulations already on the books which could improve the situation.

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OMB Watch Urges Senate to "Get It Done" on Lobbying and Ethics Reform

WASHINGTON, Aug. 1, 2007—OMB Watch today urged the Senate to follow the House's lead and ensure that lobbying and ethics reform legislation, known as S. 1, is passed before Congress's August recess.

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House Passes Landmark Ethics & Lobbying Bill

Aug 1, 2007 by Dana Chasin

Yesterday, the House voted overwhelmingly (411-8) to pass the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007 -- a new set of lobbying and ethics reforms of broad and, in some instances, unprecedented scope. Never before has Congress sought to require earmarks disclosure by law, for example. OMB Watch has commented frequently on this bill, most recently here, here, and here. And today, OMB Watch issued a press release urging final passage and further reforms down the road.

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House Passes Ethics and Lobbying Reform, Again

Jul 31, 2007 by Amanda Adams*

Hopefully this time the Senate will act. The House voted 411-8 to pass S.1, the ethics and lobbying reform bill that would increase disclosure requirements for lobbying activities and for earmarks. The next step is for the bill's passage in the Senate, which may prove a bit more difficult. Read previous reactions by OMB Watch below.

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New Lobby/Ethics Provisions Analyzed

Jul 30, 2007 by Dana Chasin

With One Seachable/Sortable Surprise Following up on Adam's blog, below is a closer look at and comment on the revolving door and earmarks provisions of the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007. Word is that the House will vote on the bill tomorrow; the Senate is expected to do so on Thursday. The bill's "revolving door" provisions are as follows: