Publications

Overcaution and Confusion

PACI2 Overcaution and Confusion: The Impact of Ambiguous IRS Regulation of Political Activities by Charities and the Potential for Change contextualizes the points of consensus and debate that emerged during an Aug. 3, 2007, panel discussion on the potential for establishing a bright-line rule for the Internal Revenue Service's (IRS) enforcement of the prohibition against partisan intervention in elections by charities and religious organizations.

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Watcher: October 23, 2007

Oct 24, 2007 by Matt Lewis

House Conservatives Sink SCHIP Despite a considerable lobbying campaign by supporters, House Republicans blocked an effort to override President Bush's veto of a five-year, $35 billion funding increase for the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) that would have provided an additional 4 million uninsured children with health insurance. AMT: Prospects for Reform and the PAYGO Challenge

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Transparency in the Election Spotlight

Popular thinking tells us that for any trend, fad or heavily pursued activity, the pendulum will eventually swing back the other way. As we approach the 2008 elections, this may well be the case for government transparency, which, after years of increasing government secrecy, appears to be getting greater attention than ever before.

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CIA Investigates Its Own Watchdog, the Inspector General

In a disconcerting development, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is investigating its own watchdog, the Inspector General of the CIA. Sens. Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) and Kit Bond (R-MO), chairman and vice chairman, respectively, of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR), and other members of Congress expressed concern that such an investigation compromises the independence and integrity of the CIA's Office of the Inspector General (OIG).

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California Restores TRI Reporting for the State

When California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) signed the California Toxic Release Inventory Act of 2007 (Assembly Bill 833) into law on Oct. 13, California became the first state to pass legislation to undo the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) December 2006 weakening of the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI). The new state law establishes the threshold for detailed reporting at 500 pounds of a listed toxic chemical, which was the original threshold for the TRI program before EPA changed the regulations to reduce the reporting burden on companies.

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Senate Bill Grants Immunity to Telecom Companies, House Bill Stalled

The Senate Intelligence Committee recently passed a bill that would grant retroactive immunity to telecommunications companies involved in the National Security Agency's (NSA) warrantless wiretapping program. The same week, the House pulled a bill that would increase judicial oversight and accountability over the administration's surveillance efforts.

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No Conviction, Mistrial for Holy Land Foundation

On Oct. 22, a federal jury in Texas deadlocked on all charges against the Holy Land Foundation (HLF) and most of the charges against five of its leaders. All were accused of supporting terrorism. The former board chair and endowment director, Mohammed el-Mezain, was acquitted of 31 of 32 charges against him, with the jury deadlocking on the remaining charge. The government has indicated that it will retry the case.

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Whistleblower Case Reveals Possible Political Campaign Intervention

Three former Oral Roberts University (ORU) professors filed a lawsuit on Oct. 2 in Tulsa, OK, against the university, alleging they were wrongfully fired after they reported the private school's involvement in a local political race. They claim that ORU President Richard Roberts directed former government professor Tim Brooker to use his students and resources to support the 2005 mayoral campaign of Tulsa County Commissioner Randi Miller. This use of university resources would violate the institution's tax-exempt status.

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Labor-HHS Appropriations to Test Bush Veto Threats

Congress is nearly ready to send President Bush the first appropriations bill of the FY 2008 budget cycle — almost one full month overdue. The Senate is scheduled to vote today, Oct. 23, on the $150 billion Labor-HHS-Education appropriations bill. Once that version is conferenced with the House version (which passed in July 276-140), it will be sent to the president, where it may face a veto.

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House Conservatives Sink SCHIP

Despite a considerable lobbying campaign by supporters, House Republicans blocked an effort to override President Bush's veto of a five-year, $35 billion funding increase for the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) that would have provided an additional 4 million uninsured children with health insurance. The final vote was 273-156, which fell 15 votes short of the necessary two-thirds majority. Only two Democrats voted to sustain the veto; the rest were Republicans.

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