According to a survey of Louisiana residents released last month by Louisiana State University, faith-based organizations and nonprofits got higher marks than government for their hurricane recovery efforts. While not surprising given the abysmal government response, the findings raise larger questions about the role of the federal government in providing resources to the nonprofit sector. Nonprofits face major long-term budget challenges at the federal level that will continue to make it more difficult to serve the people and missions they exist to serve.

Dear OMB Watcher, Even as 2005 draws to a close, we here at OMB Watch are gearing up for 2006, developing a game plan for the upcoming year, knowing that our work of advocating for improved government accountability and citizen participation will remain vitally important in the coming year.

Continuing its trend of bucking compassion and fiscal responsibility in lieu of tax cuts for the wealthy, the House of Representatives voted last week to pass the $56 billion reconciliation tax bill. This vote, which came on the heels of the vote to save money by slashing mandatory spending, culminated what seemed to be a month of illogical, hypocritical voting.