Hill Briefing

Alliance for Justice, Center for Lobbying in the Public Interest, National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy, National Council of Nonprofit Associations and OMB Watch, Present Nonprofit Advocacy Rights: What Are They? How Are They Under Attack? Wednesday, January 25, 2006 The following nonprofit leaders discussed the lobbying and election activity rules for nonprofits and past attempts to restrict these advocacy rights through federal legislation.

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Too Much Recess? Congress Gears Up for a Short Year

Jan 26, 2006 by Adam Hughes*

Despite the plethora of issues Congress will be addressing this legislative year, the leadership has created a compressed election-year schedule, allowing very little time for actual work to be done. Congress will devote 72 days this year to work on legislative business. (Remeber: votes are generally only held Tuesday - Thursday of any given week). They are scheduled to recess for the year on October 6 in order to give lawmakers up for re-election a full month in which to campaign back in their districts.

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Graham to be Feted by Industry Lobbyists

Jan 25, 2006 by Guest Blogger

Well, the corporate special interests really did appreciate being placed above the public interest -- so much so, they wanted to put their money where their mouth is and host a reception for outgoing OIRA administrator John Graham. From the Washington Post: Did you mark your calendars next week for a "farewell reception" Tuesday "honoring John Graham ," the administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs at the Office of Management and Budget?

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Democracy Alive and Well in Connecticut

Jan 25, 2006 by Adam Hughes*

With the President's FY 2007 budget soon to be released, the House must still take one more vote on the FY 2006 budget cuts bill it struggled with for almost all of last year, and some moderate Republicans are starting to break out of the stranglehold of party loyalty. Rep. Rob Simmons (R-CT), who initially voted against the cuts, then voted for them in December, has announced today that he has re-evaluated his position again and will vote against the bill on Feburary 1.

Simmons' office released the following Kerry-esque statement:

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Everson: IRS Will Review Frozen Refund Program

Jan 25, 2006 by Matthew Madia

Yesterday, IRS Commissioner Mark Everson announced that the Questionable Refund Program, which is currently under scrutiny for recent practices, will undergo a review and modification process.

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Latest Watcher

Jan 25, 2006 by Guest Blogger

Be sure to check out the latest issue of our biweekly newsletter, The Watcher. Reg policy articles this time: Risk Bulletin Advances Long-Term Anti-Reg Agenda The Graham Files

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Watcher: January 25, 2005

Jan 25, 2006 by Guest Blogger

Without Addressing Budget Process, Lobbying Reform Doomed to Fail Still Fewer Heirs Will See Fortunes Taxed in 2006

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Update: "Is Industry Pulling EPA's Strings?"

On Jan. 23 Thomas Sullivan, chief counsel for advocacy with The Small Business Administration (SBA), contacted OMB Watch in response to "Is Industry Pulling EPA's Strings?", an article recently published in The Watcher that describes a troubling pattern of close cooperation and extensive communication between the SBA and the Environmental Protection Agency around reducing chemical reporting under the Toxic Release Inventory (TRI), in order cut down on governmental paperwork for companies. Sullivan asked that OMB Watch clarify that the 1997 investigation by SBA's Inspector General into possible unethical actions around the TRI by SBA lawyer Kevin Bromberg, who has previously advocated for an industry coalition on TRI, found no evidence of inappropriate action. During his conversation with OMB Watch, Sullivan acknowledged that all of the facts cited in the article about recent interactions between EPA and SBA are correct. The article has been updated to reflect SBA's request.

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Reform Must Illuminate Channels of Money, Influence

Both Republican and Democratic lawmakers have proposed principles and introduced legislation to purge the excessive influence of lobbyists in Washington, since corruption scandals highlighted the inappropriately cozy relationship between Capitol Hill and K Street. Neither party, however, appears to be making full use of one the best weapons against corruption and abuses of power--sunlight. Reform proposals would all be strengthened with more comprehensive use of the tools of transparency.

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The Graham Files

Jan 24, 2006 by Guest Blogger

John Graham's upcoming exit as OIRA administrator is definitely an occasion to reflect on his agenda. We have compiled our coverage of Graham's tenure in a new web feature resource, The Graham Files. Check it out, at www.ombwatch.org/files/files/regs/grahamfiles.

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