"A Vigorous Push From Federal Regulators"
"The Obama administration is taking on Cheerios. And popular cold remedies and swimming pool drains and rhinestones on children's clothing."
Source: Wash Post, 10/13/2009
Government
FOIA Not Fixed Yet: Senate Panel
Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT) says Congress has to do more to fix the Freedom of Information Act — especially stemming the hundreds of special exemptions created by Congress itself.
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Sen. Schumer Pushes Back Against WH Effort To Weaken Shield Law
A federal law protecting reporters who maintain the confidentiality of their sources is currently stalled in the Senate Judiciary Committee as Obama breaks campaign promise.
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Supreme Court Hears Animal Video Case
Some justices skeptically questioned a 10-year-old law, intended to outlaw "crush videos," making it a criminal offense to possess or publish many depictions of cruelty to animals.
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CRS Publishes Cost-Benefit Analysis of House Climate Bill
A report prepared by the Congressional Research Service is likely to be one key focus of an upcoming Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing.
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"Interior Bid for Supreme Court Hearing on $19B Royalties Case Fails"
"The Supreme Court won't review an appellate decision blocking the Interior Department from ending royalty waivers at times of high oil and gas prices for deepwater energy producers in the Gulf of Mexico."
Source: Greenwire, 10/06/2009
"Senate Boosts EPA, Interior Department Budgets"
"The Senate on Thursday approved big budget increases for the Interior Department and the Environmental Protection Agency as it passed a $32 billion spending measure for the budget year that starts next week."
Source: AP, 09/25/2009
Senate Dents Shield Law for Reporters
A de facto filibuster by several Republicans, plus quibbling by some Democrats, caused a long-awaited markup of bill S 448 to end with no action.
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Coal Ash Data Waiting for Local Reporters
Use this roundup of sources to write a probing story about the ash, slag, and sludge from coal-burning electric utilities — which containins heavy metals that can pollute water, and even bury people's houses.
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Tapping the "Fishbowl" — Is EPA Doing Some Things Right on FOI?
OMB Watch, a fierce FOI advocacy group, says EPA has been working hard to push hitherto restricted data out to the public, citing the earliest-ever release of TRI data, monitoring data on atrazine in water, and more.
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