No Money No Problems

Jun 28, 2007 by Matthew Madia

On Jan. 3, EPA published a proposed rule potentially allowing "major source" air pollutant emitters to be downgraded to "area source" emitters. Major sources are subject to maximum achievable control technology (MACT), which often results in a significant reduction in air pollution. Area sources are not subject to the MACT standard. Under the current rules, major sources retain that designation permanently — a policy EPA refers to as "once-in, always-in." The proposed rule would repeal the current policy.

read in full

Approps Update

Jun 28, 2007 by Craig Jennings

Yesterday, the House approved a $27.6 Interior-Environment appropriations bill. Meanwhile, the White House shakes its fist at Congress threatening to veto the Interior-Environment bill, because the bill would breach the $933 billion discretionary spending cap requested by the president. (click to enlarge)

read in full

Conrad: Appropriations Deal Needed for Nussle Confirmation

Jun 28, 2007 by Matt Lewis

Sen. Conrad says he wants to play hardball on the budget. He says he's going to hold off on holding the Senate's confirmation hearings for Jim Nussle, President Bush's nominee for OMB director, until they find common ground on discretionary spending. From the Washington Post:

read in full

Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Bill Passes House

Jun 27, 2007 by Amanda Adams*

The House passed the Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Prevention Act of 2007, (H.R. 1281) to prohibit deceptive practices in federal elections, making it a felony to knowingly communicate false election information to prevent another person from voting. BNA Money and Politics ($$) reports that "the new House bill did not reflect GOP concerns about voter fraud, no one voiced opposition to the measure during a brief debate on the House floor June 25.

read in full

The Long and Winding Road ... to Conference

Jun 27, 2007 by Dana Chasin

On May 24, the House adopted H.R. 2316, the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007 (aka, the lobbying and ethics bill), in a lop-sided 396-22 vote. The Senate passed S. 1, its own version of the bill back on January 18 almost unanimously, 96-2.

read in full

The Long and Winding Road ... to Conference

Jun 27, 2007 by Dana Chasin

On May 24, the House adopted H.R. 2316, the lobbying and ethics bill (aka, the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007, in a lop-sided 396-22 vote. The Senate passed S. 1, its own version of the bill back on January 18 almost unanimously, 96-2.

read in full

Edwards Defends Nonprofit

Jun 27, 2007 by Amanda Adams*

Last week the use of presidential candidate John Edwards' tax-exempt organization to finance campaign expenses was highlighted in a New York Times article.

read in full

How Will the FEC Respond to WRTL Ruling

Jun 27, 2007 by Amanda Adams*

Roll Call ($$) offers insights as to what the Federal Election Commission (FEC) may now do after the Supreme Court ruling in the WRTL case. An option for the FEC would be an emergency rulemaking process which circumvents the public comment period, but would inevitably bring criticism. The more probable scenario would be for the FEC to do nothing and continue to address possible issue ad violations on a case-by-case basis, as the agency does with complaints made on 527 groups.

read in full

Latest Watcher

Jun 27, 2007 by Matthew Madia

Be sure to check out the latest issue of our biweekly newsletter, The Watcher. Regulatory policy articles this time: EPA Announces Proposed Smog Standard House Legislation Would Force Regulatory Review House Bills Address Mining Health and Safety Shortfalls

read in full

New Data on Contracting

Jun 27, 2007 by Matt Lewis

The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform has updated its database of government contracting (you can also check out fedspending.org to search through contracting data). The House's website has interesting profiles of cases where contracting went wrong, and there's a very comprehensive report on contracting. What it doesn't have is a good narrative to explain why all this stuff matters.

read in full

Pages

  • ©2015 Center for Effective Government
  • All Rights Reserved.
  • This an archive site of the materials produced by the Center for Effective Government (formerly OMB Watch) and is maintained by the Project On Government Oversight.