On this day, December 15, National Bill of Rights Day, OMB Watch would like to pay tribute to our nation’s First Amendment. This 45-word phrase, drafted by James Madison more than 210 years ago, has guaranteed freedoms and liberties through more than two centuries – allowing for freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of the press, freedom to peaceably assemble, and the freedom to access public information.

On Dec. 2, the United States Court of Appeals reversed a U.S. district court decision that the IRS can keep documents on determinations for organizations’ tax-exempt status private.

OMB Watch has asked the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to deny a request from the Department of Health Human Services (HHS) to conduct a national survey of Head Start program executive salaries and travel costs because it duplicates information HHS already has and places an unnecessary burden on Head Start programs. The survey was HHS’s response to a request from two members of the House Education and Workforce Committee, which asked for a “review of the financial management of Head Start grantees nationwide.” See the full text of the OMB Watch Comments.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is seeking comments on an existing final regulation, Public Inspection of Exempt Organization Returns. The Internal Revenue Code section 6104(b) authorizes the IRS to make available to the public the returns required to be filed by exempt organizations. As part of the Department of Treasury’s continuing effort to reduce the paperwork and respondent burden it is inviting the general public to take this opportunity to comment. The comments submitted will be included in the request for the Office of Management and Budget’s approval.