A BNA Money and Politics ($$) story reminds observers of the "pending campaign finance, lobbying, and ethics issues faced by the 110th Congress with no sure end in sight." The FEC nomination hearing highlighted this. Apparently, a Senate vote on the FEC nominees could still be weeks or even months away. If the three FEC recess-appointed commissioners are not confirmed by the end of this session of Congress in December, they will have to leave the agency, leaving the FEC in a presidential election year without enough commissioners to operate.

The IRS released for comment and discussion proposed revisions to Form 990 and other supporting information. The IRS hopes to have the form ready for use for the 2008 filing year for returns filed in 2009. The redesign is based on three principles, "enhancing transparency, promoting tax compliance, and minimizing the burden on the filing organization." The comment period will run for 90 days, and comments are due no later than September 14, 2007.

The New York Times reports on a shift of the Justice Department's civil rights mission. During the Bush administration, religious cases are being taken up much more than cases of racial discrimination.

The state of Pennsylvania and civil liberties groups settled a lawsuit that challenged government funding of a faith-based job training program at a county jail. The settlement requires that state officials do not use public funds to support religious activities, that tax-funded programs will not religiously discriminate against program participants, and that the state will monitor the program activities to ensure there are no violations.