Weak Roof Crush Rule Threatens Victims' Rights

Based in part on flawed cost-benefit analysis, a proposed rule to reduce injuries sustained when vehicles roll over and their roofs are crushed inward fails to require the level of safety available in current technology and threatens to eliminate the rights of roof crush victims to sue manufacturers. Caving in on Roof Strength

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Good News and Bad News for the TV Fan

Nov 29, 2005 by Guest Blogger

After previously touting a flawed cost-benefit analysis as a basis to reject requiring cable à la carte, the FCC is now showing signs of reversing course. The Wall St. Journal reports that new FCC chairman Kevin Martin said in a public forum that à la carte pricing for cable service "could be economically feasible and in consumers' best interests," conceding that the earlier cost-benefit assessment was flawed. Ah, but the bad news (if you're a grown-up and want to have television for grown-ups), from USA Today:

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CRS Estimates Ten Year Cost of Tax Cut Extension

Nov 29, 2005 by Adam Hughes*

A recent Congressional Research Services report has estimated that extending the '01, '03, and '04 tax cuts will cost the Treasury $2.286 trillion over 10 years. The CRS cost estimate was based on Congressional Budget Office estimates and calculations by the CRS, according to the report.

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Nonprofits Urge Supreme Court to Protect Grassroots Communications

A diverse coalition of charities filed an amicus brief on Nov. 14 in the Supreme Court case Wisconsin Right to Life v. Federal Election Commission urging the court to protect the right of nonprofits to broadcast grassroots lobbying communications.

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House, Senate To Battle Over Budget Cuts

Among the top priorities for Congress, when its members return to Washington next week, is the construction of a conference report for spending cuts that is acceptable to both chambers. The House and Senate versions of the reconciliation bill for entitlement spending contain significant differences, particularly with respect to cuts to Medicaid, student loans, and food stamps.

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OIRA Bulletin on Agency Guidance

Download the draft bulletin announcing new across-the-board policies for non-binding agency guidance documents.

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Tax Cut Measure Guarantees Increasing Deficits

The House of Representatives will return to session next week after a two-week Thanksgiving break, with the first item on its agenda being a bill to cut taxes--primarily for high-income Americans--by an additional $56 billion. When combined with its companion reconciliation spending bill, which barely passed the House in the early hours of Nov. 18, the bill will actually increase deficits over the next five years - directly contradicting the original intent of the reconciliation process.

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Fate in Senate of Nonprofit Gag Provision Uncertain

Nonprofits Monitoring Other Legislation for Advocacy Restrictions After a stinging five vote loss in the House, nonprofit groups continue their efforts to oppose the inclusion of any restrictions on the use by nonprofits of private funds for nonpartisan voter registration and advocacy in the Senate's version of an affordable housing provision. At the same time, Head Start advocates are examining pending reauthorization legislation to determine if new language in it would restrict the use of private funds for Head Start grantees.

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Revised Nonprofit Anti-Terrorism Guidelines Expected This Week

This week the Treasury Department will likely release its revised anti-terrorism financing guidelines with broad implications for the nonprofit sector. The revision will likely emphasize that the guidelines are voluntary. It will also urge nonprofits to check the terrorist watch lists when doing business with any group or individual.

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Post-Katrina Survey Finds Wariness, Desire for Change

Shortly after Hurricane Katrina, OMB Watch launched an online survey seeking feedback and reaction to the possibility of launching an investment agenda, not just for the affected states, but for the entire country. The response was tremendous, as over 800 respondents from nearly every state completed the survey and contributed a multitude of thoughtful, in-depth comments. The overwhelming consensus among respondents held not only that now is the time for a comprehensive, long-term investment agenda for the country, but that such an initiative is long overdue.

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