New complaints filed with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) accuse churches in Missouri and Texas of participating in partisan political activities that are prohibited under the tax code. Meanwhile, Focus on the Family announced a new voter mobilization drive aimed at evangelical churches which will likely result in IRS complaints before the November elections. Both developments highlight the continued confusion and ambiguity that have plagued IRS policy on voter education and mobilization activities by nonprofits. Missouri Catholic Conference and Voter Education on Stem Cell Research

In a ruling last week, the U.S. Court for the Eastern District of Michigan found the National Security Agency's (NSA) warrantless domestic spying program to be in violation of the First and Fourth Amendments and the separation of powers. The decision came on a case filed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) challenging the legality of the NSA program by arguing that the rights of several journalists and academics had been violated.

This fall, the Internal Revenue Service will likely make two changes to its tax enforcement efforts that defy logical explanation. IRS Commissioner Mark Everson will soon go forward with plans to cut nearly half its staff of estate tax auditors and to create a program that would allow private companies to pursue taxpayers who owe back taxes.

Earlier this month, OMB Watch reported that articles authored by the nominee to replace John Graham as the head of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), Susan Dudley, were no longer available on the website of the Mercatus Center, the industry-backed think tank where Dudley was previously employed. Now, all the missing articles have mysteriously returned to the website and several previously unavailable articles by Dudley have also been posted there.