Be sure to check out the latest issue of our biweekly newsletter, The Watcher. Reg policy articles this time: Opposition to Dudley as Regulatory Czar Mounts A Senate committee recently announced a hearing for Nov. 13 to consider the nomination of Susan Dudley to be the head of the White House's regulatory office. The Dudley nomination has created a firestorm of protest from organizations representing workers, environmental issues, consumer protections, and other public interest concerns. Ballot Initiative Threatens Regulatory Protections

BNA Money and Politics (subscription required) reported that the Tax Exempt and Government Entities Division of the IRS is planning on releasing its exempt organization work plan in November. The TE/GE Division plans to provide tax-exempt organizations with more examples to help them clearly understand the distinction between what is and is not considered prohibited political activity.

With the advent of a potential overhaul of Congress at the hands of voters on November 7, we are witnessing some hysterical predictions by a highly-placed Executive Branch official of "an immense tax increase and the economy would sustain a major hit.'' But, as this Bloomberg article published today reports, "Stock-market investors aren't buying it." Why isn't Wall Street in the grip of fear that a Democratic Congress would unilaterally roll back the Bush tax cuts and move aggressively to regulate the economy?