Government reform news from around the web

Government reform orgs. deliver news on major events within their areas of expertise.

Washington State “Top-Two” Primary Data Shows Ballot Access Barrier Averages 32% Voter Support
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Ballot Access News

Because Washington state is using the “top-two” system this year, no one may appear on the November ballot (for all state office, and for Congress) unless that person placed first or second in the August primary. This year’s August primary election returns reveal that the median 2nd-place finisher polled 32.41% of the vote.

Therefore, one may conclude that the ballot access barrier for the November ballot in Washington state this year is 32.41%, on the average. In other words, one may not appear on the November ballot without a prior showing of public support of almost one-third of the electorate. This fact lends strength for the pending lawsuit, Washington State Republican Party v Washington state, which will have a trial in U.S. District Court next year. The Libertarian Party, a co-plaintiff in that lawsuit, will probably take the lead, since the Libertarian Party is in a position to complain about the ballot access aspects of the “top-two” system. Prior decisions of the U.S. Supreme Court on ballot access make it clear that access to the general election ballot is protected for candidates who hold the constitutional qualifications, and who are not “sore losers”, and who have a modicum of support. “Modicum of support” has been interpreted to be 5%, a far lower level than 32%.

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Why Aren't Candidates Talking about the Foundations of Prosperity?
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Government Bytes! - National Taxpayers Union

During election season, candidates make a lot of promises about how they are going to make people better off. The importance and value of the American worker has been mentioned in a couple of debates. Yes, American workers contribute to societal prosperity, but they are not the essential feature. Our workers could not be prosperous in the absence of certain foundational institutions (for an international example: communism didn’t fail because Russians weren’t good workers). America has many vital institutions that have helped make us prosperous. One that certainly has not been given enough (or any) coverage this election season is the Rule of Law.

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Dr. Ned Feder: Ethical Problems at NIH - The Struggle Continues
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POGO Blog - Project on Government Oversight

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Transparency and public disclosure are not a cure for the NIH's problems, but they are a good first step. A climate of openness is part of the tradition of science at its best. It would also reassure taxpayers if NIH policies were subject to scrutiny and public criticism by scientists inside the NIH. These scientists are the people best acquainted with the NIH's defects. But even if more liberal rules on public discussion are announced at NIH, it is hard to be optimistic that there will soon be a genuine climate of openness in which criticism can thrive.

[POGO article accepts comments]

Rinse and Repeat: Oversight Subcommittee Still Needs to Scrub MMS
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POGO Blog - Project on Government Oversight

Last month we called for the House Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on Domestic Policy to conduct more oversight of the Minerals Management Service (MMS). We pointed out the Committee's Oversight plan for this Congress promised that the Subcommittee would "conduct oversight in many long neglected areas of domestic policy" like MMS. While we've commended Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) for the Subcommittee's oversight of MMS in the past, the Subcommittee still has yet to conduct a single hearing on the matter in this session.

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Deficits Do Matter
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Taxpayers for Common Sense

This week, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke observed that it is "appropriate" to consider a "significant" stimulus. Of course, the Chairman's comments that Congress "limit longer-term effects on the federal government's structural budget deficit" didn't get the same amount of attention.

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CAGW Names FCC Chairman Kevin Martin October Porker of the Month
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Citizens Against Government Waste

Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) today named Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Kevin Martin its October Porker of the Month for using FCC funds to sponsor a NASCAR driver from his home state.

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For using taxpayer funds on an unnecessary project, diverting focus from more important telecommunications concerns, recklessly spending without consulting with his peers, and attempting to use his influence to shore up his own political prospects, CAGW names FCC Chairman Kevin Martin its October 2008 Porker of the Month.

Details on Mahoney Affair Get Seedier
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TPM Muckraker

The Tim Mahoney story just keeps getting worse and worse.

First it was a settlement over an alleged affair; then it was a second alleged affair; then it was admitting to multiple affairs and now it's seedy details behind the settlement with Mahoney's former mistress.

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[TPM Muckraker article accepts comments]

Palin appointed friends and donors to key posts in Alaska, records show
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CREW - Citizens for Ethics and Responsibility in Washington

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University of Alaska historian Steve Haycox said Palin has been a reformer. But he said she has a penchant for placing supporters, many of them ill-prepared, in high posts. He called it "cronyism" far beyond what previous governors have done and a contradiction of her high-minded philosophy.

Terrence Cole, an Alaska political historian, said Palin had in some cases shown "a disrespect for experience."

Administration officials disputed such criticism.

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House Chairs Must Pay Party its Due
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Voter Blog - Public Campaign

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... the Democratic chairmen and women of high-powered committees must give at least $500,000 to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC).

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And he's gone!
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All Things Whistleblower - GAP - Government Accountability Project

Yesterday, the White House decided to remove Special Counsel Scott Bloch. And GAP is pretty happy about it. From the Washington Post:

The OSC is supposed to be a haven for federal whistleblowers and disgruntled employees. But the tables turned under Bloch, who previously worked at the Justice Department's Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives.

Bloch came under fire shortly after joining the whistleblower unit in 2004. Employees claimed that he engaged in political bias and improperly handled scores of cases. By his own account, White House officials twice had asked him to resign, but he refused.

Said GAP Legal Director Tom Devine: “Mr. Bloch had the same impact as Special Counsel that President Bush has had as President – utter disaster.”

GAP has been a persistent critic of Bloch during his tenure at the Office of Special Counsel. To read GAP’s detailed testimony on this issue from a July 12, 2007 oversight hearing on the office, click here.

[GAP article accepts comments]

Silver Lining to the Financial Crisis
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Budget Blog - OMB Watch

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It shows precisely why Free Market® policy usually ends up not really working out as planned. Organizations do not have self-interest. The people that run corporations, however, do. And when executives are rewarded handsomely (AIG, Lehman, Merrill Lynch, etc.) even when their leadership ruins the firm, then one should hardly be shocked when executives engage in the sort of risky behavior that ultimately destroys the business and trashes shareholder equity.

Bailout Contracts Blacked Out
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The Sunlight Foundation Blog - Sunlight Foundation

If I remember correctly, Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson sat in a committee hearing and pledged transparency in the operation of the ongoing bailout of the nation’s financial sector. After initially proposing a plan that would have had no oversight or transparency, Paulson reversed course under committee grilling and promised transparency. That promised transparency must be so good because I sure can’t see it.

Bailout watchers report that bailout contracts written by Treasury are redacted, including how many bailout bucks banks are set to receive. Other contracts for accountants are also riddled with redactions. The Treasury Department needs to fulfill its promise of transparency by not redacting its contracts and loans during this incredibly expensive time for taxpayers.

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[Sunlight Foundation article accepts comments]

Why an Independent Financial Markets Commission Is Needed Now
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The Heritage Foundation

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Public policy commissions can be useful to develop information, overcome structural barriers, and build consensus for politically divisive reforms. A Financial Markets Commission could contribute in all three areas...

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Agricultural Dept. Fails To Handle Complaints of Discrimination, Says GAO
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ACSBlog - ACS - American Constitution Society

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s process for handling discrimination complaints from minority workers is woeful, says a report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO). The Washington Post reports that the GAO report, released yesterday, slams the USDA’s efforts for resolving the complaints of discrimination, saying its credibility “has and continues to be undermined by faulty reporting of data.” The newspaper notes that African American USDA employees “have long complained of discrimination in hiring and promotions.”

[ACS article accepts comments]

Blagojevich Acting Shady
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Government Bytes! - National Taxpayers Union

IL Gov. Rod Blagojevich won't tell taxpayers how much of their money he's spending on state-subsidized health care:

First, Gov. Rod Blagojevich gave out state-subsidized health care without permission.

Now, he won’t tell taxpayers how many people are participating, how much tax money has been spent, or even which state account he’s using to keep funds for the program.

The Department of Healthcare and Family Services’ rejection of The Associated Press’ request under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act amplifies the mystery surrounding Blagojevich’s FamilyCare program and the administration’s reputation for secrecy after promising open government.

[NTU article accepts comments]

DoD Fails to Control “Controlled Unclassified Info”
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Secrecy News - FAS Project on Government Secrecy

Pentagon officials say that the Department of Defense and its contractors are failing to adequately protect “controlled unclassified information” (CUI) that may have significant military or technological value to adversaries or competitors.

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[FAS article accepts comments]

The Price of Freedom (of Information)
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CREW - Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington

About a month before Governor Sarah Palin was picked by Senator John McCain to be his running mate on the Republican ticket for his presidential bid, I filed a public records request with the governor’s office. My request asked for emails to or from Governor Palin and several of her staff members regarding the Alaskan candidates for the U.S. House and Senate (and, for fun, regarding her nemesis Andrew Halcro). Since Lieutenant Governor Sean Parnell was running against Congressman Don Young in the Republican primary, I wanted to see if there was any politicking happening that was on state time or with the state’s resources (something Palin was found to have been doing during her last year as mayor of Wasilla).

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DEFENSE: IG Hopes Report Will Just Go Away
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PaperTrail - The Center for Public Integrity

The Pentagon’s inspector general attempted a quick disappearing act late this week. The IG officially rescinded an audit released this spring on the protection and oversight of classified Joint Strike Fighter information handled by BAE, a UK-based defense contractor. The audit found that classified information "may have been compromised." The audit, Report on Security Controls Over Joint Strike Fighter Classified Technology, was yanked from the IG’s website, according to an October 23 letter from the IG to the Defense Security Service.

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[CPI article accepts comments]


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