Publications

Rule Allows Timber Projects to Avoid Environmental Assessments

The Forest Service recently issued standards allowing timber projects to eschew environmental assessments and impact statements -- normally required under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) -- provided that the affected area poses a risk of wildfire or contains insect-infested or diseased trees. The measures outline three categorical NEPA exemptions that would allow the harvesting of up to 70 acres of live trees (up from 50 in the proposal), the removal of up to 250 acres of dead or dying trees, and the removal of up to 250 acres of insect-infested or diseased areas.

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Senate Puts Aside GOP Energy Bill, Passes Last Year's Version

Senate Republicans recently agreed to set aside their energy bill (S. 14) after negotiations had reached a standstill and instead passed last year's Democratic version (formerly H.R. 4) by a vote of 84 to 14 on July 31.

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An Attack on Nonprofit Speech: Death By a Thousand Cuts (Full Report)

July 2003 paper prepared by Gary D. Bass, Kay Guinane and Ryan Turner, with assistance from Tim Visser, an OMB Watch intern, who did research on the impact of the Patriot Act on nonprofits.

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Watcher Articles

Jul 29, 2003 by Guest Blogger

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Children Bear Brunt of Federal Tax Cuts

In the absence of federal assistance, childcare, education, and children’s health programs are being slashed across the country despite their popularity and effectiveness.

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Statement on Support of Foundation General Operating to be Issued

In mid-June, five foundations convened roughly 55 foundations and grantees, including OMB Watch, for a day-long meeting to discuss general operating support and other funding issues. During the meeting there was considerable support for two points -- foundations should do more general operating support, and foundations should cover the real costs of overhead. The co-hosts of the meeting agreed to pursue more detailed documents on these points.

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An Attack on Nonprofit Speech

OMB Watch released a paper today, An Attack on Nonprofit Speech: Death by a Thousand Cuts, that provides a summary of how the Bush administration and conservative allies have effectively moved to control nonprofit speech. Instead of a single legislative or regulatory proposal that would limit nonprofit speech, the article notes, the Bush administration and conservative allies have proposed or begun implementing a number of proposals that are akin to a “death by a thousand cuts.” These “cuts” have suddenly accelerated in the last year.

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House Charitable Giving Bill to Move in September

It appears the Charitable Giving Act (H.R. 7), a House bill providing incentives to increase charitable giving, may begin to move. A tentative mark-up of the bill is scheduled for September 4 in the Ways and Means Committee.

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EPA to Reconsider Roll Back of Air Standards

The Bush administration has agreed to reconsider a final rule issued in December that weakens air-pollution standards for factories, refineries, and power plants.

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9/11 Report Recommends Public Accountability, Greater Openness

The Joint House-Senate Inquiry released its long awaited report last week on the September 11th intelligence failures. One of the most interesting and disconcerting aspects of the report is what portions of the report the administration chose to classify.

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