Publications

The Bush Tax Cuts are No Worse than the Reagan Tax Cuts?

There seems to be a common misperception that while things are pretty bad, the country survived the Reagan tax cuts, and the Bush tax cuts aren’t that much worse. All that progressives need to do is continue working against any more tax cuts and advocating for adequate appropriations funding, and we'll get through it. This complacency is misplaced and dangerous. The tax cuts, the fiscal condition of the federal government and the states, and the politics are very different. Conservatives have been working on a long-term agenda of shrinking government by reducing revenue. Movement conservative Grover Norquist wants to cut spending on federal programs in half within the next generation; in his words: "kill the taxes and you kill the government."

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Illinois Strengthens Open Government Laws

Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D) recently signed two pieces of legislation into law that expand current open government laws. The first requires local government bodies to record closed meetings; the second allows attorneys fees and court costs to be awarded to plaintiffs in Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cases.

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OMB Watch on Estate Tax Tour

On behalf of Americans for a Fair Estate Tax, a coalition of nonprofit organizations opposing the repeal of the estate tax, OMB Watch economist John Irons will be traveling the country in early September – from Washington, D.C., to Washington State, Portland, Oregon, to Portland, Maine, and a number of places in between – to discuss recent reports assessing the impact of estate tax repeal on charitable giving. These local events will be organized by United for a Fair Economy, the Fair Taxes for All coalition, and their local affiliates.

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Economy and Jobs Watch: 2001 Recession in Perspective

The recession that began in March 2001 was relatively mild by historical standards when measured by total output. The recession saw just three quarters of negative growth and a cumulative output decline of less than 1 percent of gross domestic product (GDP). By the end of 2001, GDP had fully recovered to pre-recession levels.

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2001 Recession In Perspective: Economic and Budget Situation

A comparison of the last three recessions shows that even while declines in total output in the 2001 recession were smaller than average, the recovery has been weaker than average. In particular, the employment situation has seen substantial deterioration relative to the start of the recession as well as compared to past recessions.

The budget outlook is particularly troubling. Despite the relatively small drop in total output, federal government revenue has dropped to record levels, and record surpluses have turned into record deficits in a few short years. Comparisons with past recessions show that the deterioration in the budget situation is unlikely to be due to the economic situation, and that current tax and budget policy are likely to blame.

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Help Us Put "A Face on the Numbers"!

Have you ever felt frustrated that policy makers in D.C. don't seem to understand the lives of real people who depend on federal and state services? OMB Watch is launching a new web site to change this, and we need your help to make it happen.

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Can Companies Sue Critics for Bad Product Reviews? Supreme Court Asked to Decide

Can companies sue critics who publish independent tests of products? The publishers of Consumers Reports have petitioned the Supreme Court to stop a suit that tests the right of consumers to be informed of independent test results.

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EPA Agrees to Act on Air Pollution in National Parks

In a recent court settlement, EPA agreed to issue new standards by April 15, 2005, to reduce air pollution in national parks and wilderness areas. A good visibility day in Smoky Mountains National Park The effects of air pollution are apparent in this shot, taken in the same spot as shown above. The settlement stems from a lawsuit against the agency, brought by Earthjustice on behalf of

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Bush Picks Utah Governor to Head EPA

President Bush recently nominated Utah Gov. Michael Leavitt (R) to head the EPA, replacing Christie Whitman, who resigned in May. During his more than 10 years as governor, Leavitt touted an environmental philosophy he called “Enlibra,” which is defined as a move toward balance. Yet, in practice, many of his decisions tilted against environmental protections.

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Administration Pushes for Increased Oil and Gas Development

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) recently instructed federal land-use planners to clear the way for increased oil and gas drilling on federal lands. This action stems from a study, requested by Congress in 2000, that inventoried oil and gas resources underlying five Western basins and examined environmental restrictions on access to those resources.

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