Citizen Health & Safety

Budget Cuts Leave Consumer Safety Net "Frayed"

Apr 7, 2008 by Matthew Madia

Sunday's Cleveland Plain Dealer ran an article by Stephen Koff highlighting a problem OMB Watch has been focusing on for the past few months: declining budgets and staffing levels at federal regulatory agencies.

read in full

Bush Policy Revealed: President Suppresses Science He Can't Understand

You're reading the special April Fools' Day, 2008, edition of The Watcher.

In a surprise speech April 1, President George W. Bush acknowledged it is his policy to suppress or ignore science he cannot understand. "Sometimes I get reports that scientists want to regulate chemicals or pollution, but they use a bunch of jibber jabber and fancy math to make their point," Bush said. "The American people didn't elect me to read reports and understand science; they elected me to make decisions — that's why I'm the decider."

read in full

Congress Passes Clean Waterboarding Act

You're reading the special April Fools' Day, 2008, edition of The Watcher.

The Bush administration and congressional leaders agreed to begin negotiations over the Clean Waterboarding Act of 2008 that Congress passed April 1. The key sticking point is the administration's objections to leaving the responsibility for implementing the act to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). According to Congress, EPA is the agency that sets U.S. water quality standards and is therefore the most appropriate agency to ensure that, if domestic sources are used for waterboarding, the water is "clean." The administration wants the Justice Department (DOJ) to have the authority to implement the act because DOJ has the legal responsibility for justifying other torture tactics, and the agency can oversee the use of waterboarding in international settings. Since President Bush has stopped short of threatening a veto, an agreement with Congress is expected soon.

read in full

OMB Watch Launches Regulatory Resource Center

Mar 31, 2008 by Matthew Madia

Today, OMB Watch launched a web-based Regulatory Resource Center at www.ombwatch.org/regresources. The Resource Center provides tips for advocates who want to get involved in regulatory decision making and educational resources for anyone interested in how the federal regulatory process works.

read in full

Public Protection Standards Have Dropped under Bush

Mar 31, 2008 by Matthew Madia

Some investigative journalism at the Federal Times shows just how little rulemaking federal agencies have engaged in during the Bush administration: Many regulatory agencies have submitted fewer rules during the current Bush administration's two terms than during Bill Clinton's tenure, or even during George H.W. Bush's single term.

read in full

OMB Watch Launches Regulatory Resource Center

WASHINGTON, March 31, 2008—Today, OMB Watch launched a web-based Regulatory Resource Center at www.ombwatch.org/regresources. The Resource Center provides tips for advocates who want to get involved in regulatory decision making and educational resources for anyone interested in how the federal regulatory process works.

read in full

On Toy Safety, States Lead the Way

Mar 25, 2008 by Matthew Madia

Wall Street Journal reporter Joseph Pereira writes today about state government efforts to limit the presence of certain substances in children's toys, particularly lead. Both the U.S. Congress and U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) have been unable to quickly enact policies to respond to public concern over toy safety.

read in full

Bush Administration Can't Be Bothered with Endangered Species

Mar 24, 2008 by Matthew Madia

Internal Bush administration policies are intentionally undermining the Endangered Species Act, according to a Washington Post investigation. As a result, species protection activity has all but stopped inside Bush's Department of the Interior. One policy instructs officials at the Fish and Wildlife Service — the Interior Department agency responsible for most Endangered Species Act decisions — to basically ignore public requests for species protections:

read in full

Public Demands Answers on Executive Branch Transparency

Mar 19, 2008 by Matthew Madia

OMB Watch recently conducted an informal survey asking people to identify questions they would like to ask candidates for federal office. The survey focused on questions related to government transparency. After more than two thousand people responded to the survey, the results are in. Responses show that, more than anywhere else, Americans want greater transparency in the Executive Branch, particularly the White House. Based on the survey, here are the top five questions we hope voter groups, media outlets, and the general public will ask candidates: 1) Manipulation of Facts

read in full

Endocrine Disruptors Still a Mystery

Mar 18, 2008 by Matthew Madia

Researchers are investigating the Potomac River's most unusual inhabitants: Male fish that grow eggs like female fish. According to an article in today's Washington Post by reporter David A. Fahrenthold, "Along the Potomac, researchers have long suspected that hormone-mimicking chemicals were the cause of the 'intersex' fish. The first of these creatures, male fish with eggs growing in their sex organs, were noticed in a rural West Virginia tributary in 2003."

read in full

Pages

  • ©2025 Project On Government Oversight
  • All Rights Reserved.
  • This an archive site of the materials produced by the Center for Effective Government (formerly OMB Watch) and is maintained by the Project On Government Oversight.