Replacement Lobbying and Ethics Bill Underway; Could A Bill Be Complete Before the Recess?

Jul 26, 2007 by Amanda Adams*

CQ ($$) reports that the long overdue lobbying and ethics bill could clear Congress before the August recess begins. Staff has been working on an identical measure to be voted in both the House and Senate to replace the passed S.1 and H.R. 2316. In his fight to ensure that earmark language is included, Senate Jim DeMint (R-SC) has reportedly promised to filibuster any legislation that does not contain the precise earmark language in the original Senate bill passed in January.

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The Broken Labor Market

Jul 26, 2007 by Matt Lewis

Economist Mark Thoma, over at Economist's View, locks in on an essential point in the inequality debate that often gets overlooked. One thing that bothers me about the whole inequality debate is the presumption that the winners deserve their incomes because it reflects their contribution to the firm, i.e. it is the wage that would be earned in well-functioning competitive markets, with the reward is equal to the person's marginal contribution to the firm. Thus, the analysis often begins with the idea that any tax takes away someone's hard-earned income and redistributes it elsewhere.

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Orszag Examines Options and Objectives re PAYGO

Jul 25, 2007 by Dana Chasin

Congress is taking a hard look at PAYGO again, which expired at the end of fiscal year 2002, after a decade in which it played a big role in restoring fiscal balance during the 1990s and producing the federal government's first balanced budget in 30 years.

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Does OMB Nominee Bring Budget Baggage?

Jul 25, 2007 by Dana Chasin

Ignore that man on the floor with a bag over his head. Pay attention instead to what he does behind closed doors. That was the message of OMB Director-nominee Jim Nussle yesterday at his Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee confirmation hearing:

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Progress in the FDA? Think again.

Jul 25, 2007 by Rick Melberth*

You'd think that U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officials would be willing to listen to their own employees as public confidence in the agency diminishes among a string of regulatory lapses and congressional investigations. However, a BNA report ($) suggests otherwise.

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Victims of High Dioxin Exposure Levels Left Behind

Jul 25, 2007 by Rick Melberth*

Residents of Mossville, LA, have three times the level of dioxin in their blood as the national average, and 90 percent of the residents have illnesses that are linked to dioxin exposure. These are conclusions drawn from government data, so the humane, responsible thing for government agencies to do is — nothing.

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Conflicting Stories on the Nonprofit Sector

Jul 25, 2007 by Amanda Adams*

Yesterday the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Oversight, led by Chairman John Lewis (D-GA), held a hearing on tax-exempt charitable organizations. Chairman Lewis set the overall tone with his opening statement praising the work of nonprofits. "These organizations play such an important role in our country. Charities and foundations make up the very fabric of our communities. They know the deepest human needs of our friends and neighbors and they know the solutions that work." All other committee members emphasized their appreciation for the nonprofit sector as well.

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House Reaches Agreement on SCHIP

Jul 25, 2007 by Matt Lewis

House leaders have an agreement on their version of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) reauthorization and expansion, reports BNA (subscription req'd) today. The House Energy and Commerce Committee should approve the package on July 25th, and the House Ways and Means Committee on July 26th. The entire House is expected to vote on the bill by late next week- the Senate is expected to vote on their package this week. There are three major differences between the Senate and emerging House bill:

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    FYI: Tax Law Restrictions on Activities of Common Exempt Organizations

    Jul 25, 2007 by Amanda Adams*

    The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has published a chart outlining seven federal tax law characteristics of 501(c)(3),501(c)(4), 501(c)(5), 501(c)(6) and 527 organizations. The chart indicates whether such organizations may receive tax-deductible contributions, contributions or fees deductible as a business expense, engage in legislative advocacy, engage in candidate election advocacy, or engage in public advocacy not related to legislation or election of candidates.

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    Labor Market Failures

    Jul 25, 2007 by Matt Lewis

    Ezra Klein, a writer for the American Prospect, has an interesting post on uncompetitive and exploitative labor markets- a significant cause of inequality. Sadly, the best thing written on the blog today didn't come from me. Rather, it's a comment from Kathy G. arguing that labor markets don't look much like classical assumptions would suggest, and that the data -- and some emergent theory -- offers evidence that they're closer to a monopsony than the more traditional competitive-market-in-equilibrium model. Full comment below the fold: Anyone who thinks mandated leave would inevitably lead to a decrease in employment or wages most likely has not taken any econ beyond Econ 101. Because if you believe that such results would inevitably follow, you clearly are not familiar with the empirical research on paid leave, nor do you understand economic theory beyond a very superficial and incomplete level.

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