Winners and Losers in Earmark Dollar Distribution

Apr 26, 2007 by Dana Chasin

Top Five Over- and Under "Earmarked" States (Rank of Earmarked Dollars Received/Population, 2005) Over-Earmarked
  • 1 Alaska (6/47)
  • 2 Hawaii (14/42)
  • 3 West Virginia (10/37)
  • 4 Alabama (9/23)
  • 5 Maryland (8/19)
Under-Earmarked
  • 1 Georgia (24/9)
  • 2 Indiana (30/15)
  • 3 Colorado (36/22)
  • 4 North Carolina (21/10)
  • 5 New Jersey (22/11)
Earmark Rankings: USA Today, 4/26/07

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Good Day for 501(c)(3)s in the Supreme Court

Apr 26, 2007 by Kay Guinane

Yesterday's oral argument before the Supreme Court in Wisconsin Right to Life, suggests that the grassroots lobbying rights of 501(c)(3) organizations may get greater protection in the court's upcoming decision. In the oral arguments the attorney for the Federal Election Commission (FEC), Paul Clement, admitted that 501(c)(3) organizations would have an "inspirational" challenge to the electioneering communications rule because we cannot establish political action committees (PAC).

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Watch the Hearing Live

Apr 26, 2007 by Matthew Madia

As Reg•Watch blogged yesterday, the House Science and Technology Committee subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight will hold a hearing on President Bush's changes to the regulatory process. OMB Watch Executive Director Gary Bass will be testifying. Watch the hearing live starting at 10:00 a.m.

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What Does OSHA Do with All That Money?

Apr 25, 2007 by Matthew Madia

Today's New York Times features an in-depth expose of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The article highlights a variety of OSHA failings. The problem lies not in what OSHA does, but in what it does not do: Since George W. Bush became president, OSHA has issued the fewest significant standards in its history, public health experts say. It has imposed only one major safety rule. The only significant health standard it issued was ordered by a federal court.

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Wisconsin Right to Life Arguments

Apr 25, 2007 by Kay Guinane

This morning the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the Wisconsin Right to Life case, and this morning's news had an abundant number of stories for those who needed to catch up on the intricacies of the case. (A few include; The Appleton Post-Crescent, The New York Sun, Portland Herald) There is good reason why the case is in the limelight, as many say it is one of the most important campaign finance cases in years.

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Baucus Sees Small Business Tax Package in Supp. 2.0

Apr 25, 2007 by Dana Chasin

After Congress adopts the minimum wage small business tax package -- Small Business and Work Opportunity Tax Act of 2007 -- as part of the war spending supplemental conference report, and the president vetoes it, what will become of it? Will it be part of a post-veto "Supp. 2.0"?

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House to Examine Regulatory Policy Officers

Apr 25, 2007 by Matthew Madia

On Thursday at 10:00 a.m., a House panel will examine President Bush's recent changes to the regulatory process. Gary Bass, Executive Director of OMB Watch, is scheduled to testify. The panel (the House Science and Technology Committee subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight) has looked at Bush's amendments to the regulatory process before, but this hearing will focus on the Regulatory Policy Officer (RPO) — a presidentially appointed regulatory taskmaster housed in each federal agency. Here are the basic facts on the RPO:

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    Johnson Refuses to Admit Danger of CO2, Astonishes Audience

    Apr 25, 2007 by Matthew Madia

    Not to be outdone by Alberto Gonzales, Stephen Johnson appeared before the Senate yesterday and achieved new levels of obstinacy. The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee questioned Johnson, the administrator of EPA, about the Supreme Court's recent ruling affirming the agency can regulate carbon emissions under the Clean Air Act. The legislation instructs EPA to regulate harmful air pollutants.

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    Attention, Deficit

    Apr 25, 2007 by Matt Lewis

    An interesting debate on deficits has sprung up...
    • Jared Bernstein argues against a narrow focus on balanced budgets.
    • Greg Anrig's response
    • For more on this critical debate, see the materials from this recent EPI event, our summary of it in The Watcher, and Dana's reaction.
    UPDATE: Brad Plumer has a good take on the EPI event, and Ezra Klein responds. OK, that's enough.

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    Treasury Secretary Tired of Social Security 'Solitaire'

    Apr 24, 2007 by Dana Chasin

    We've sung the sad song of Secretary Paulson before. At a Washington press briefing yesterday, he confessed, referring to Social Security reform:

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