Burns and Abramoff

There have been many news reports about the ongoing investigation into the ties between Senator Burns and lobbyist Jack Abramoff. Here are some of the available documents that have been referenced in recent news reports.

Letter to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales

A personal message from Conrad... (bottom of the page)

Many of the political contribution records referenced in news stories have been obtained through FOIA requests or requests for information from the Northern Mariana Islands. Other political donation information can be found through the Federal Elections Commission (FEC) database. The FEC site provides very specific information on individual, business, and PAC contributions.

Northern Mariana Islands Covenant Implementation Act

Summary and status from 106th Congress (1999) - S. 1052

Senate Report 106-204 for S. 1052

Summary and status from 107th Congress (2001) - S. 507

Senate Report 107-28 for S. 507

Sources: "Burns not giving money back to lobbyist." Billings Gazette
"Records Show Burns' Abramoff Meetings." Newsday.com. December 7, 2005.
"Burns seeks 'expeditious' review of ties with Abramoff." Billings Gazette December 7, 2005.

Cancer Genome Atlas

From the National Institutes of Health (NIH) press release: "The National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), both part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), today launched a comprehensive effort to accelerate our understanding of the molecular basis of cancer through the application of genome analysis technologies, especially large-scale genome sequencing. The overall effort, called The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), will begin with a pilot project to determine the feasibility of a full-scale effort to systematically explore the universe of genomic changes involved in all types of human cancer."

More information can be found at the Cancer Genome Atlas website.

Source: "Researchers to create map of cancer's genetic makeup." Missoulian December 14, 2005. A6.

New Categorical Exclusion Proposal

From the Forest Service press release: "U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service today announced a proposal to improve the environmental review process for oil and gas exploration and development projects under federal lease in national forests and grasslands. Public comments are being invited on the proposal for 60 days.

"The proposal would allow local forest and grassland units to use a categorical exclusion when approving surface uses, such as road access, drill pad construction and pipeline installation, for oil and gas exploration and development under federal lease."

The pre-publication version of the Federal Register notice is available on the Forest Service website. The final version is available in today's Federal Register (text, PDF).

Comments can be sent to:
Oil and Gas CatEx Proposed Directive, C/O Content Analysis Group, P.O. Box 2000, Bountiful, UT 84011-2000, or by facsimile to (801) 397-2601, or by e-mail to ogcatex@contentanalysisgroup.com.

The press release notes that "this categorical exclusion may be subject to the Eastern District of California court ruling, Earth Island Institute v. Ruthenbeck. Therefore, oil and gas projects using this categorical exclusion may be required to notice the project to the public, and provide public comment and appeal opportunities." This case was discussed on this blog on October 26, 2005.

Annual Energy Outlook 2006

From the Energy Information Administration (EIA) press release: "World oil markets have been extremely volatile for the past several years and the Energy Information Administration (EIA) now believes that the reference case oil price path in recent editions of the Annual Energy Outlook did not fully reflect the causes of that volatility and their implications for future oil prices. In the Annual Energy Outlook 2006 (AEO2006) reference case, released today by EIA, world oil supplies are assumed to be tighter, as the combined productive capacity of the members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) does not increase as much as previously projected. World crude oil prices, expressed in terms of the average price of imported light, low-sulfur crude oil to U.S. refiners, are projected to fall from current levels to about $47 per barrel in (2004 dollars) in 2014, then rise to $54 per barrel in 2025 and $57 per barrel in 2030. The projected crude oil price in 2025 is about $21 per barrel higher than projected in last year’s reference case."

You can view the Annual Energy Outlook 2006 (Early Release) on the EIA website. The full publication will be released in early 2006.

Source: "Forecast: $50-a-barrel oil to stay." Missoulian December 13, 2005. A3.

Beef Trade with Japan

From the Billings Gazette: "The cattle industry is hailing Japan's decision to resume limited beef shipments from the United States, nearly two years after a case of mad cow disease in this country halted the lucrative trade.

"But the government's plan to also lift its ban on beef from Japan - a country that's reported 21 cases of mad cow disease, compared to the United States' two - was viewed more cautiously and even skeptically, by some."

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) website links to numerous pieces of information on the mutual lifting of importation restrictions on American and Japanese beef.

USDA Amends Regulations Governing The Importation Of Whole Cuts Of Boneless Beef From Japan (press release)

Questions and Answers: The Importation of Boneless Beef from Japan

Statement By Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns Regarding The Opening Of The Japanese Market To U.S. Beef (Audio also available)

Transcript of Remarks by Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns and United States Trade Representative Ambassador Rob Portman Hong Kong (Audio also available)

Other government sources may provide useful background information:

Technical Information for the Resumption of Beef Trade with Japan (USDA)

Office of the United States Trade Representative

Negotiations, implementation and development: the Doha agenda (World Trade Organization)

Baucus: Beef Dispute with Japan Not Over Yet

Sources: "Cattle industry pleased with Japan's decision on U.S. beef." Billings Gazette December 12, 2005.
"Japan Partly Lifts Ban on Imports of U.S. Beef, Easing Trade Dispute." New York Times December 12, 2005.

Ecology Center v. Austin

From the Missoulian: "The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has called the Lolo National Forest's efforts to log in areas burned by the fires of 2000 'arbitrary and capricious' and reversed a lower court's ruling in favor of the agency.

"The San Francisco-based court likened the U.S. Forest Service's efforts to thin old-growth stands for forest health without knowing for sure how those efforts would impact wildlife to pharmaceutical companies marketing drugs without ensuring they are safe and effective."

Read the opinion from the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals for more details.

The Post Burn Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and Record of Decision are available on the Lolo National Forest website. The Burned Area Assessment 2000 may also be useful.

The Region 1 Forest Service site also includes documents relating to appeals of Lolo Post Burn decisions:

Appeal Decision (Ecology Center)

Recommendation Letter (Ecology Center)

Appeal Decision (Montanans for Property Rights)

Recommendation Letter (Montanans for Property Rights)

The Ecology Center website includes opinions on post-burn projects and a documents archive.

Source: "Court rules against Lolo National Forest." Missoulian December 10, 2005. A1.

Friday Resource Round-Up

The Decline of the National Disaster Emergency Response System
A staff report of the House Committee on Government Reform Minority Office.

E.D. TAB: Revenues and Expenditures by Public School Districts: School Year 2002-03
A report from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).

Form EIA-906 and EIA-920 Databases
Power plant data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA).

Hispanic Population of the United States
2004 data is now available from the Census Bureau.

House Rules and Manual
"Contains the fundamental source material for parliamentary procedure used in the House of Representatives."

Hurricanes Katrina and Rita Resource Page
Resources for housing and mortgage funding for victims of the recent hurricanes.

Iraq: Assessment of Progress in Economic Reconstruction and Governmental Capacity Iraq: Assessment of Progress in Economic Reconstruction and Governmental Capacity
Staff Trip Report to the Committee on Foreign Relations, Senate Committee Print 109-40.

Latin American Government Documents Archive
This archive, created and hosted by the University of Texas Libraries, "contains copies of the Web sites of over 100 government ministries and presidencies, captured on multiple dates during a two month period in the Fall of 2005."

A National Dialogue: The Secretary of Education's Commission on the Future of Higher Education
Links to the agenda, presentations, and testimony for the meeting.

Semiannual Report to Congress
A report of the Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services.

Short-Term Energy Outlook
The latest outlook from the Energy Information Administration (EIA).

Survey of Plant Capacity: 2004
A Census Bureau report from the Current Industrial Reports series.

U.S. Congress Votes Database
This new database compiled by the Washington Post provides access to roll call votes from the 102nd Congress through the present and allows you to see all votes by a particular Senator or Representative.

Congressional Research Service (CRS) Reports:

Azerbaijan's 2005 Legislative Election: Outcome and Implications for U.S. Interests

China's Currency: Brief Overview of U.S. Options

China's Space Program: An Overview

Congress's Power to Legislate Control Over Hate Crimes: Selected Legal Theories

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act: A Legal Overview

Federal Hurricane Recovery Coordinator: Appointment and Oversight Issues

Federal Income Tax Thresholds for Selected Years: 1996 Through 2006

Parental Notification and Ayotte v. Planned Parenthood of Northern New England

Space Exploration: Issues Concerning "Vision for Space Exploration"

Space Stations

Trade in the U.S. Gulf Region: Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Beyond

Trade Liberalization Challenges Post-CAFTA

General Accountability Office (GAO) Reports:

Internet Management: Prevalence of False Contact Information for Registered Domain Names

Older Workers: Labor Can Help Employers and Employees Plan Better for the Future

Public Housing: Distressed Conditions in Developments for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities and Strategies Used for Improvement

Veterans' Disability Benefits: Claims Processing Challenges and Opportunities for Improvements

United Nations Documents:

Ecosystems and Human Well-being: Health Synthesis

Global Forest Resources Assessment

Human Rights and World Trade Agreements: Using general exception clauses to protect human rights

Key Indicators of the Labour Market

Report of the Secretary-General on the protection of civilians in armed conflict

Report of the Security Council mission to Central Africa, 4 to 11 November 2005

NHTSA Report on Rural Crashes

From the Billings Gazette: "A country drive might be relaxing, but it can also be dangerous.

"Forty-two percent more fatal crashes occur in rural parts of the country than on busy stretches of highways through cities and suburbs, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Thursday."

The report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), "Contrasting Rural and Urban Fatal Crashes 1994 - 2003," is now available online.

Source: "Montana leads nation in fatal crashes on rural roads." Billings Gazette December 8, 2005.

PATRIOT Act Reauthorization Conference Report

From the New York Times: "House and Senate negotiators reached agreement today on reauthorizing the USA Patriot Act, the sweeping anti-terrorism measure that granted the federal government new powers after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, a Republican Senate leader said."

The Conference Report sets 4-year sunset provisions for sections 206 (roving wiretaps) and 215 (acquisition of business, and library, records) of the original PATRIOT Act and makes all other provisions permanent. The text of the Conference Report is available on the House Judiciary Committee website. A shorter, section-by-section summary of the Conference Report is also available.

You can find more information on the "USA PATRIOT and Terrorism Prevention Reauthorization Act of 2005" (H.R.3199) through THOMAS. Information on the original USA PATRIOT Act, including the text of the law, is also available.

Source: "House-Senate Panel Reaches Agreement on Patriot Act." New York Times December 8, 2005.

Wagnon v. Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation

From the Associated Press: "The Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled that states have the power to tax fuel sold on Indian reservations.

"In a 7-2 vote, the high court said Kansas can tax distributors who sell fuel at an Indian-owned and operated gas station near the Prairie Band Potawatomi tribe's casino. Most of the Nation Station's fuel customers are patrons of the casino, which is 15 miles north of Topeka, Kan."

Wagnon v. Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation
Docket 04-631

Supreme Court opinion

Petitioner's brief

Respondent's brief

Petitioner's reply brief

Transcript of oral arguments

Source: "High court favors taxes on fuel on Indian reservations." Associated Press. December 6, 2005.

LAWS website available for the December Special Session

From a Legislative Services Division press release: The Legislative Services Division of the Montana Legislative Branch announced today that the Legislative Automated Workflow System (LAWS) website has been activated and is now available in preparation for the upcoming December 2005 legislative special session.LAWS is an up-to-the-minute database application used for updating and tracking bill status. The web interface portion of LAWS provides public access to bill status, bill text, various reports, and other legislative information. It contains detailed information on all bills and bill drafts prior to, during, and after the Montana legislative session. During a legislative session, floor agendas, journals, and floor action summaries for both the house and senate chambers are available from LAWS. Committee hearing schedules are also available during the session.

Mesothelioma in Montana

A new report has been produced by the Montana Environmental Public Health Tracking Project regarding Mesothelioma in Montana.

From the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services press release: Mesothelioma is the form of cancer that develops after a person has been exposed to asbestos. The report describes mesothelioma, the mechanisms believed to lead to mesothelioma, major sources of asbestos in Montana, and information about Montanas diagnosed with mesothelioma.

Other resources on mesothelioma and asbestos:

What is asbestos? A webpage from the Montana Environmental Public Health Tracking Project and the Montana Department of Environmental Quality.

Asbestos A site provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Lung cancer and Mesothelioma A site that provides infromation on hospitals, patient stories, and clincal trials.

Mesothelioma: Questions and Answers A fact sheet from the National Cancer Institute.

Special Session of Montana Legislature and Governor's School Funding Plan

From the Helena Independent Record: "Gov. Brian Schweitzer on Monday called a special session of the state Legislature to begin Dec. 14, telling lawmakers they will be called back to Helena to fix the school funding and the state pension problems.

"Schweitzer outlined a plan few had heard about before Monday to permanently increase school funding by about $30 million a year. He also called for putting about $33 million in one-time money next school year into school buildings, Indian Education for All and energy cost relief for schools."

The Governor's announcement is available on the state website. The new school funding proposal has also been posted as an Excel file.

Source: "Governor calls special session." Helena Independent Record December 5, 2005.

9/11 Commission Update

From Chairman Thomas Kean's statement: "We see some positive changes. But there is so much more to be done. There are far too many C's, D's, and F's in the report card we will issue today. Many obvious steps that the American people assume have been completed, have not been. Our leadership is distracted."

The new report from the 9/11 Commission members is available on the 9/11 Public Discourse Project website.

Sources: "Former 9/11 panel: U.S. at risk." Missoulian December 5, 2005. A1.

Friday Resource Round-Up

Audit of Oversight of Highway Rail Grade Crossing Accident Reporting, Investigations, and Safety Regulations
A report of the Department of Transportation Inspector General.

Characteristics of U.S. 15-Year-Old Low Achievers in an International Context: Findings From PISA 2000
A new National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) report.

Corporate Income Tax Rates: International Comparisons
A Congressional Budget Office (CBO) report.

Country Analysis Brief: United States
The Energy Information Administration (EIA) has issued a report on the use of various energy sources in the United States.

eAccessibility of public sector services in the European Union
An e-government assessment from the European Union.

Economic Report of the President
The Federal Reserve has digitized these annual reports from 1960 through 1985 and made them available through FRASER (Federal Reserve Archival System for Economic Research).

Education Statistics Quarterly
The latest issue of new statistical findings is now available.

Email Address Harvesting and the Effectiveness of Anti-Spam Filters
A report from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

Federal Criminal Proceedings Against Mining Companies, 1979-2005
The Memory Hole has archived this report from the Mine Safety and Health Administration.

Housing Tenure and Wealth Distribution in Life-Cycle Economies
A Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta working paper.

Small Business Administration Research Resources
"This guide is designed as a portal to direct faculty, students, and researchers to small business data and research."

Summary of OPI Activities for December 2005
An overview of the activities of the Montana Office of Public Instruction for December is now available.

Urban District Report Cards
Report cards in reading and math for major urban areas like Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, and more.

Census Bureau Reports:

American Community Survey: Additional 2004 Data

Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE)

Congressional Research Service (CRS) Reports:

Budget Reconciliation FY2006: Provisions Affecting the Medicaid Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP)

Combating Terrorism: The Challenge of Measuring Effectiveness

Costs and Benefits of Clear Skies: EPA's Analysis of Multi-Pollutant Clean Air Bills

Foreign Holdings of Federal Debt

Forestry in the Farm Bill

Improvised Explosive Devices in Iraq: Effects and Countermeasures

Internet Development and Information Control in the People's Republic of China

Muslims in Europe: Integration Policies in Selected Countries

Organic Agriculture in the U.S.: Program and Policy Issues

Secret Sessions of Congress: A Brief Historical Overview

Trade Integration in the Americas

Welfare Reauthorization: A Side-By-Side Comparison of Current Law, Senate Committee-Approved and House Budget Reconciliation Bill Provisions

General Accountability Office (GAO) Reports:

Aviation Security: Federal Air Marshal Service Could Benefit from Improved Planning and Controls

Chemical Regulation: Approaches in the United States, Canada, and the European Union

Electricity Restructuring: Key Challenges Remain

Environmental Protection: More Complete Data and Continued Emphasis on Leak Prevention Could Improve EPA's Underground Storage Tank Program

Fair Housing: Annotated Complainant Survey

Fair Housing: HUD Needs Better Assurance That Intake and Investigation Processes Are Consistently Thorough

Federal Water Requirements: Challenges to Estimating the Cost Impact on Local Communities

Housing Finance: Ginnie Mae Is Meeting Its Mission but Faces Challenges in a Changing Marketplace

Medicaid: States' Payments for Outpatient Prescription Drugs

Medicare: CMS's Beneficiary Education and Outreach Efforts for the Medicare Prescription Drug Discount Card and Transitional Assistance Program

Medicare: CMS's Implementation and Oversight of the Medicare Prescription Drug Discount Card and Transitional Assistance Program

Offshoring of Services: An Overview of the Issues

Terrorist Financing: Better Strategic Planning Needed to Coordinate U.S. Efforts to Deliver Counter-Terrorism Financing Training and Technical Assistance Abroad

Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) Articles:

Adult Participation in Recommended Levels of Physical Activity - United States, 2001 and 2003

Surveillance for Certain Health Behaviors Among States and Selected Local Areas - Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, United States, 2003

United Nations Documents:

Best Practices for Improving Law Compliance in the Forest Sector

Building Back Better: A 12-month Update on UNICEF’s Work to Rebuild Children's Lives and Restore Hope since the Tsunami

Tsunami: One Year Update

USDA Economic Research Service (ERS) Reports:

Cotton and Wool Yearbook

Fruit and Tree Nuts Outlook

Outlook for U.S. Agricultural Trade

Potato Statistics

U.S. Strawberry Industry, 1970-2004

W.R. Grace Appellate Court Opinion

From the Helena Independent Record: "The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Thursday agreed with a lower court's ruling that the company, which filed for bankruptcy in 2001, must pay the Environmental Protection Agency the full $54.5 million for asbestos cleanup in Libby, along with any future costs.

"'The situation confronting the EPA in Libby is truly extraordinary,' the appeals court wrote in its opinion. 'We cannot escape the fact that people are sick and dying as a result of this continuing exposure'."

The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals opinion is now available online.

Sources: "Appeals Court upholds order that Grace must pay $54.5 million." Missoulian December 2, 2005. A9.
"Court: Grace must pay $54 million for asbestos cleanup." Helena Independent Record December 2, 2005.

Upper Lolo Watershed Restoration Project

From the Missoulian: "The Lolo National Forest has put the finishing touches on its plan to improve water quality in the upper Lolo Creek watershed - now all it needs is some help to fund the ambitious project."

Information on the Upper Lolo Watershed Restoration Project is available on the Lolo National Forest website. The decision notice is included on the site.

Information on the TMDL process for this watershed is available on the Lolo Forest website, and the Upper Lolo Watershed Report, water restoration plan, and EPA TMDL approval are all available online.

Source: "Lolo forest finishes watershed restoration plan, now needs funding." Missoulian December 2, 2005. A1.

McCulloch Plan

From the Montana Office of Public Instruction (OPI) press release: "The McCulloch Plan provides just under $71 million new state dollars to Montana schools. All the proposed programs relate to the Legislature’s definition for a system of quality education as defined in Senate Bill 152. The Montana Supreme Court directed the Legislature to relate all school funding to educationally relevant factors from a definition for quality education."

The plan is outlined on the OPI website in an Excel spreadsheet.

The plan is summarized in the press release:

$11.4 Million for Full Day Kindergarten

$38.9 Million for $3000 per educator entitlements

$15.0 Million for Indian Education for All

$ 3.5 Million for Retirement Funding for Federal Employed Educators

$ 2.0 Million School Facilities Condition Inventory

The release also addresses the property tax impacts of the McCulloch Plan.

Source: "McCulloch offers school funding fix." Missoulian November 30, 2005. B1.

Fundraising Rules for National Parks

From the Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER) press release: "In a quiet but far-reaching change, the National Park Service is poised to adopt a new policy of aggressively seeking corporate sponsorship of park projects and facilities. In return for financial sponsorships, the plan will give corporate donors naming rights, use of National Park symbols and personnel in advertising and much greater influence over park managers, according to public comments filed today by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER)."

The proposed Director's Order is available on the National Park Service (NPS) website. An executive summary and the text of the existing fundraising rules may prove helpful for context. The Reference Guide within the proposed rule links to a guide to legal issues in creating partnerships with the NPS and information on creating partnerships for NPS capital campaigns.

PEER has issued comments on the donation solicitation policy and a comparison between the proposed and existing rules.

The Federal Register notice indicates that comments will be accepted until December 5, 2005:
John Piltzecker, NPS, Partnership Program Manager, National Partnership Office, 1849 C. St, NW., Mail Stop 2206, Washington, DC 20240
partnerships@nps.gov.

Source: "Corporate Sponsorship in National Parks Proposed." About.com, December 1, 2005.

State Pension Bailout

From the Billings Gazette: "The taxpayer bailout of the state's public employee pension systems will cost nearly $300 million over the next six years under a plan that could be headed to a special legislative session.

"An interim legislative panel unanimously approved the plan Wednesday, which includes a one-time infusion of $125 million into the retirement systems for public employees, teachers, sheriffs and game wardens."

You can follow the work of the State Administration and Veterans' Affairs Interim Committee on their website. The text of newly drafted bills, meeting agendas, and minutes are available on the site. The bill which calls for appropriations of $125 million from the general fund is LC2005-2.

Sources: "Plan calls for $288 million pension bailout." Missoulian December 1, 2005. B4.
"Pension bailout likely to cost taxpayers hundreds of millions." Billings Gazette November 30, 2005.