As Reg•Watch blogged earlier, the Government Accountability Project released a report detailing Bush administration political interference in climate science. The report includes evidence of manipulation by OMB. For example, the U.S. Climate Change Science Program (CCSP) is supposed to be a clearinghouse for accurate and up-to-date climate science produced by agencies. Unfortunately for the American people, OMB is one of the overseers of CCSP. According to the GAP report, OMB and other political offices sit on a panel that must approve CCSP communications. The panel has approved startlingly little information. It is worth noting that since 2004, CCSP has cautiously produced and posted on its website only five fact sheets and two research summaries, all ranging from two to four pages in length. It issued eight press releases — three of which were administrative announcements — and held one workshop on November 14-16, 2005. Furthermore, with the exception of three press releases, CCSP has not produced any new material as of January 2006. That's not much product from a staff of 14. (Current staff-level according to CCSP website).

OMB Watch has learned a Senate panel may formally reconsider the long dormant nomination of Susan Dudley to become the White House's regulatory czar. Dudley — whose 2006 nomination stalled in the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee (HSGAC) — could reappear before that committee if Chairman Joe Lieberman (I-CT) pushes forward. In 2006, President Bush nominated Dudley to be administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) within OMB. Dudley blindly opposes any form of government regulation regardless of its potential benefit to society, thus making her an illogical choice to head the office which reviews the rules agencies develop. Because of this, public interest groups opposed Dudley's nomination, and a Republican-controlled HSGAC did not think it a high enough priority to address last fall. Never to be discouraged by the opinion of the people he governs, Bush renominated Dudley in January. A day later, Bush named Dudley a senior advisor in OIRA. If HSGAC decides to reexamine Dudley's record, we certainly hope they will realize she is not fit for the position and reject her nomination. If not, we expect Bush to appoint her during a Congressional recess this year. Stay tuned to Reg•Watch for more. For the full story on Dudley, check out Public Citizen and OMB Watch's report The Cost Is Too High.

Grist, an environmental news and commentary website, has conducted an interesting interview with Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA). Among other issues, Markey addresses his proposal to raise CAFE standards — the federal rule that governs passenger vehicle fuel efficiency. Markey discusses the prospects for passage of his bill, and ties President Bush's failure to strengthen American fuel economy to his failed Iraq strategy. Better Off Ed, from Grist.

Reg•Watch is retroactively declaring March 22, 2007 Scrutinize the FDA Day (see below). Here's one more bit of news before this soon-to-be widely celebrated holiday comes to a close. This morning, the House Energy and Commerce Committee subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations held its second hearing on the FDA drug approval process. Panel Democrats grilled FDA commissioner Andrew von Eschenbach on how the agency has become powerless in regulating drugs, especially after they reach the market. Committee Chairman John Dingell (D-MI) repeatedly criticized the culture at FDA as a contributing factor. OMB Watch has reported on the increasing need for reform in the agency's drug approval process. The hearing also featured testimony from Marcia Crosse — not the desperate housewife, but the Government Accountability Office director for health care. Crosse's testimony pointed out FDA has begun initiatives to correct some of the problems detailed in a 2006 GAO report, but it is too soon to tell how effective those reforms will be. Also of note, at least one lawmaker, Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) mentioned FDA's new guidance on advisory members which Reg•Watch mentioned earlier today.