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Update: Criticism of Domestic Spying Remains Steady

Attorney General Alberto Gonzales defended the Bush administration's policy of warrantless domestic surveillance before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Feb. 6. The administration's authorization of warrantless eavesdropping by the National Security Agency (NSA) on international calls of U.S. citizens has come under fire since news of the program was first leaked to the press in December 2005.

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Inquiry into Gov't Spying on Nonprofits Expands

On Feb. 1, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) expanded its inquiry into government spying on U.S. nonprofit groups by filing multiple Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests with the Department of Defense (DOD), in order to determine the full extent of monitoring by the Pentagon. The new ACLU information requests seek information on four national groups and several local groups in six states. Further review of documents already released to the ACLU reveals that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has used reports by right-wing groups in its investigations.

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Reform Bills Mount, Both Houses Plot Course of Action

As reform bills mount and calls for lobbying reform intensify, members of Congress are beginning to grapple with technical details and a timeframe for legislation. On Jan. 25, the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (HSGAC) held the first of what may be many congressional hearings on lobbying reform. Three panels of witnesses testified, addressing a wide range of issues, including grassroots lobbying disclosure; possible bans on privately sponsored travel and gifts for congressional members and staff; and spending earmarks inserted into appropriation bills.

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Nonprofits Call for Withdrawal of Anti-Terror Financing Guidelines

Nonprofit leaders recently called on the Treasury Department to withdraw its anti-terrorism financing guidelines for charities and to replace them with principles developed by the charitable community. Treasury's Anti-Terrorist Financing Guidelines: Voluntary Best Practices for U.S.-Based Charities, were initially issued in 2002 and revised on Dec. 5, 2005. Treasury sought comments on its revision, despite their having been operational since Dec. 5; it is unclear how the department will use the comments submitted by the nonprofits.

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Foxes in the Henhouse: OSHA, MSHA Nominees Appear Pro-Industry, Anti-Worker

Employing an all-too-familiar strategy, the White House has put forward two industry-insiders as its nominees for the top posts at the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA).

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State, Local Officials Try to Halt Federal TRI Cutbacks

Numerous state and local governments are moving to strongly oppose the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) proposals to relax federal chemical reporting requirements under the Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) program. In addition to comments criticizing the EPA proposal, there have been state legislation and city and county resolutions introduced to void EPA's proposed changes.

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Final Budget Bill Passed; Tax Bill Sent to Conference

A little over a month into 2006, Congress continues its effort to finish extraneous budget reconciliation bills from 2005. The reconciliation bills, which were laid out nearly a year ago in the April budget resolution, took up much of Congress' already-limited time last fall and winter and have laid out a number of extremely irresponsible fiscal policies.

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Congress to Have Short Year; Appropriations Work Likely to Suffer

Each year the congressional leadership is responsible for setting Congress' legislative calendar, and this year that calendar will be tightly packed with the smorgasbord of issues Congress must tackle in the coming months. The legislative work Congress fails to finish, however, may be what makes headlines in 2006. This year boasts the fewest legislative days for Congress in twenty years, and this compressed election-year schedule is sure to make finishing appropriations bills before the end of the fiscal year on Oct.

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White House Adds Bricks to Its Congressional Stonewall

The Bush administration's pattern of doggedly withholding information from Congress seems to have garnered national attention as congressional oversight on critical issues has accelerated. The White House has refused to provide copies of internal legal documents regarding warrantless domestic spying by the National Security Agency (NSA), communications detailing when the administration learned of potential wide-spread damage from Hurricane Katrina, and information, including photos, related to the president's dealings with disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

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Blackout Period Begins for Some Nonprofit Broadcasts

For the first time ever, charities and religious organizations are among groups barred from broadcasting messages that refer to federal candidates within 30 days of a primary and 60 days of a general election. The Wisconsin Right to Life Committee (WRTL), a nonprofit organization that has challenged the ban, asked a special three-judge court to expedite its review of the constitutionality of the rule as it applies to grassroots lobbying broadcasts. The court will hold a status hearing for Feb. 27.

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