This Wall Street Journal article summarizes the work of OMB Watch and others who have responded to the Treasury's revised Anti-terrorist Financing Guidelines. As OMB Watch has noted in it's analysis, the Treasury has moved or modified certain language, while the main focus of the guidelines is maintained. OMB Watch's commentary on the latest revision says the information-collection recommendations remain "burdensome and unrealistic." Charities also argue that certain federal agencies have begun referencing the guidelines in discussions with nonprofits as if they had the force of law.

The minority staff of the Senate Finance Committee released a report yesterday detailing how five nonprofits have put their tax exempt status at risk in their dealings with lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

The Washington Post has this interesting story about an international terrorism financing investigation that began March 2002. More than 15 sites in Northern Virginia were affected by the raids four years ago including charities, businesses, and think tanks, in particular the International Institute of Islamic Thought (IIIT). Noticeably, this investigation is taking a great length of time, reportedly because of an elaborate money trail. During this time, "Some of the organizations raided in 2002 have closed, including several affiliated with Alamoudi, who is serving a 23-year prison term.

In Ohio On October 4, a federal judge in Cleveland blocked part of a new Ohio state law that would require naturalized citizens to provide a certificate of naturalization upon trying to vote if a poll worker challenged their eligibility. Fortunately this clear form of discrimination, where naturalized citizens are meant to be treated differently from native-born citizens at the polling place, will be blocked.