VoteStory.org

Nov 3, 2006 by Amanda Adams*

A new tool has been developed to report and assist voters who may face difficulties voting on November 7. At VoteStory.org any organization with a web site can download for free the “Web page widget” so that any who visit their website can click on a link to share their voting story. Those who share an experience will be referred to voter protection organizations for support. Hopefully many organizations will take advantage of this so that the service is widely available throughout the web and no one will have trouble reporting a voting problem.

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Nonprofits Used as Front for Foreign Lobby

Nov 3, 2006 by Amanda Adams*

This in depth Washington Post article outlines how two groups, Korean and Malaysian nonprofits, were merely disguised as nonprofit organizations, but operated by a Washington lobbying firm, Alexander Strategy Group. Since 2001, the Korea — U.S. Exchange Council and the U.S. — Malaysia Exchange Association paid for members of Congress, Hill staffers, and relatives to go on lavish trips. The lobbying firm recently shut down, and its owner is now being investigated in relation to Jack Abramoff.

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Spending Investigators Speak After Dismissal

Nov 3, 2006 by Craig Jennings

You may recall that the House Appropriations Committee decided that the sixty-year-old team in charge of conducting oversight of government spending was no longer "good." CQ reports today that some of those fired investigators are now defending themselves from Committee spokesperson John Scofield’s charge that "the work [they’ve] been getting as of late has not been that good." CQ ($):

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Center for Effective Government Staff: Brian Gumm

Brian Gumm: Senior Writer and Policy Analyst

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Lockheed's Profits and Budget Priorities

Nov 2, 2006 by Adam Hughes*

Lockheed Martin, the nation's biggest government contractor, recently announced that its third-quarter profits topped $600 million. Let's assume the vast majority of that profit was earned on government contracts (a fair assumption since Lockheed receives more than two-thirds of its annual revenue directly from the government). Under our assumptions and extending out their quarterly profits - Lockheed will make about $2 billion in profit on government contracts this year. For perspective, that $2 billion is roughly equal to:

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    A New Direction on Tax Policy?

    Nov 2, 2006 by Matt Lewis

    Today's Washington Post profiles a House race in Connecticut where the Republican incumbent, Rep. Nancy L. Johnson, is hitching her candidacy to tax cuts. Problem is, nobody seems to care.

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    Ford Rally Held In Church

    Nov 2, 2006 by Amanda Adams*

    The director of Americans United for the Separation of Church and State, Barry W. Lynn, says the IRS should examine the Temple of Deliverance Church of God in Christ because of the church's use for a Harold Ford Jr. rally. Former President Bill Clinton appeared at this rally in Memphis yesterday. At issue is whether the resources of the church -- the cost to rent it out, additional security for the ex-president, lighting and heat -- are being spent on a partisan political rally, Lynn said. The story can be read here.

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    Voting In Ohio

    Nov 2, 2006 by Amanda Adams*

    After much confusion, the latest Ohio voter identification rules are discussed in this news story out of Cincinnati. Yesterday a federal court settlement clarifies Ohio's voter-identification rules, and suspends ID requirements altogether for absentee ballots. This is a success for the poverty and labor groups who filed the lawsuit charging the id law was not being applied equally throughout the state. Yet, the back and forth court decisions have probably left most voters in Ohio very confused.

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    GAO to Investigate Interior's Royalty Program

    Nov 2, 2006 by Matt Lewis

    Some good news: The Government Accountability Office (GAO) will be investigating the Interior Department's decision to drop claims that Chevron has been cooking the books, as well as the entire program for oil royalty collection. And let's give credit where it's due, as the Republican leader of the House Government Reform Committee, Darrel Issa (R-CA), ordered the investigation.

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    Fiscal Picture: the House Democrats' Agenda for the 110th

    Nov 1, 2006 by Matthew Madia

    Looking /node/6536 at the House Democrats' legislative agenda for the 110th Congress, a muddled picture emerges of the plan's composite fiscal outcome. The Washington Post points out today that the House Democrats propose tens of billions of dollars in additional spending for revamping the military, tightening port and border security, fully funding first responder needs, increasing college tuition deductions, promoting renewable energy, and expanding incentives for personal savings accounts.

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