New PART Scores Showcase More Contradictions of Program President Restarts Push for Line-Item Veto Senate Rules Committee Passes Process Reforms

Congress should not use reauthorization of the Paperwork Reduction Act as an occasion to keep the public in the dark and threaten existing regulations that protect health and safety, and the environment, OMB Watch will tell Congress today. Rather it should be an occasion to promote information technologies that reduce costs to government, make compliance easier for industry, and improve transparency.

Majority Leader Boehner was quoted Tuesday as saying he expects the House to take up lobby reform legislation in April. Meanwhile, former House Ethics Chairman Hefley and Rep. Kenny Hulshof, R-Mo., a former member of the committee, Tuesday offered their own package of changes to House rules. The Hefley-Hulsof package would require pre-approval and prompt public disclosure of privatly funded travel, public disclosure of and new reporting requirements on gifts, and changes to the process of investigating potential rules violations.

From CQ: David Vitter, R-La., has declined to drop his planned amendment imposing new campaign finance rules on Indian tribes. Vitter’s plan would treat tribes like corporations under campaign finance law. Vitter has two other amendments that would address the influence of senators’ family members on the legislative process. One, he said, would bar spouses and dependent children from drawing a paycheck from Senate campaigns.