Press Room

Law Meant to Regulate 'Sham' Issue Ads Instead Silences Citizens Groups

Statement of AFL-CIO, Chamber of Commerce, National Education Association and OMB Watch
Sept. 8, 2006 marked the beginning of a 60-day blackout period for broadcasts that mention federal candidates, even if the broadcasts are wholly unrelated to the election. As organizations deeply concerned with public policy issues, we condemn this clampdown on free speech.

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Nonprofits Should Be Encouraged by IRS Decision to Drop NAACP Case

OMB Watch Statement on End of IRS Investigation of NAACP
Today the NAACP announced that the IRS has found that it did not violate the ban on partisan electioneering for charitable groups when its chairman, Julian Bond, criticized several Bush administration policies during a speech given at its 2004 national convention. OMB Watch is encouraged by the outcome and believes now is the time to examine the IRS procedures that led to the controversial case.

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FEC Decision Is a Blow to Civic Participation

Statement on FEC's Failure to Consider Grassroots Lobbying Exemption
The public deserves consideration of the merits of proposals to protect grassroots lobbying. Today, that discussion was blocked, and it was a loss for civic participation and grassroots involvement in democracy.

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White House Appoints Industry-Backed Extremist as Regulatory Czar

Statement of J. Robert Shull, Director of Regulatory Policy
Corporate special interests are about to have the best friend they could have wished for installed in the White House office that oversees regulatory policy. The White House announced today its intention to nominate Susan Dudley, an anti-regulatory extremist from the industry-funded Mercatus Center, to an obscure but powerful office, where she would have the power to gut the federal government's very ability to protect the public.

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Memo to Editorial Boards on Federal Sunset Commission Legislation

Two proposals racing to a floor vote in Congress this week would create an un-elected, unaccountable sunset commission that could lead to serious consequences for programs that play vital roles in protecting the environment, public health, and safety, as well as programs that provide education, social services, and community development. A vote on these proposals is likely in the House on Thursday.

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With Vote Scheduled in the House, Experts Oppose "Sunset Commission" Bills

WASHINGTON, July 25 - Policy experts and key stakeholders spoke out today calling on the U.S. House of Representatives to reject two "sunset commission" bills. The House will vote this week on both bills, under which unelected commissions would be given the authority to recommend sweeping changes in the federal government and force those changes through Congress.

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MEDIA ADVISORY: Telephone Briefing on Sunset Commission Bills

WASHINGTON — Former Texas Sunset Commissioner O.H. "Ike" Harris, Barbara Coufal of AFSME, and Gabriela Lemus of LULAC and Robert Shull of OMB Watch will brief journalists on a dangerous proposal to create an unelected, unaccountable commission empowered to target programs for elimination. More than 300 organizations are opposing the creation of a sunset commission. Speakers tomorrow will discuss the legislation, the Texas experience, and the threat that such commissions pose to the most vulnerable members of our society.

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OMB Watch Applauds Federal Spending Transparency Effort, Offers Improvements

WASHINGTON, July 18 - Gary Bass, executive director of OMB Watch, testified today before the financial and information management subcommittee of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Bass was among a group of witnesses with vastly different views on government that testified in support of a new bill that would shed light on government spending.

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New Bill Would Put Government in Hands of Bush Cronies

Statement of Robert Shull, OMB Watch
A bill introduced in Congress yesterday would allow Bush administration cronies to recommend sweeping changes in the federal government - including the elimination of entire programs - and force those changes through Congress, according to the watchdog group OMB Watch.

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Report Finds IRS Program Could Hamper Free Speech for Organizations

WASHINGTON, July 6--A report released today finds fault with the IRS program to enforce the ban on partisan activities by charities. The report's most serious findings suggest that the IRS's Political Activities Compliance Initiative (PACI) threatens the constitutional rights of nonprofit organizations and churches to speak out on issues of the day. It also suggests that the IRS exaggerated the extent of noncompliance in an agency report on its enforcement efforts in 2004.

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