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Latest Policy Publications
POGO’s experts push policymakers to enact commonsense reforms that tackle waste, corruption, and abuse of power; hold those who’ve violated the public trust accountable; protect our constitutional rights; and make the government work for all people.
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Policy Letter
POGO and Allies Caution Congress on Anti-Leaks Legislation
The undersigned organizations, concerned with government openness and accountability, write to urge you to protect the interests of an open government and informed public in any legislation to address the leaks of highly classified information. Congress’ goal of protecting the...
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Analysis
Maneuvering to Get Washington’s Ear
It is significant news that two of Washington's major think tanks are now writing reports about the inevitable, additional reductions in the defense budget--to come after the elections. However, it is sad news news that both of them actually propose less than they would have y...
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Analysis
Think-Tanked: Old Wine in Dark Bottles
Two of Washington D.C.'s most prestigious and well-funded think tanks recently published reports advising Congress and the Defense Department on how - and how much - to cut from the Pentagon's coffers after November's election.
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Policy Letter
POGO Joins in Urging Congress to Fund Whistleblower Protection Programs
This letter is to urge you to provide $20.379 million that was requested by the Department of Labor for the Office of Whistleblower Protection Programs (OWPP), which is currently housed within the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Since 2000, Congress has p...
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Policy Letter
POGO Urges OSTP to Ensure that Agency Scientific Integrity Plans Include Contractors and Grantees
POGO is pleased to see that most federal departments and agencies have finally made public their draft or final scientific integrity plans in response to President Obama’s March 2009 Memorandum on Scientific Integrity. However, POGO is concerned that several agencies have not ...
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Analysis
A Peek at Pentagon Pork: A Taxpayers’ Guide
The House Armed Services Committee (HASC) and the Defense Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee (sometimes called the HAC-D) have reported their separate defense bills to the House of Representatives (both bills purport to address both spending and policy).
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Analysis
Everlasting Pork
Slush funds for the executive branch in authorization and appropriations bills are a big no-no, but if they are intended for Members and their staff to use, that would seem to be different.
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Policy Letter
POGO Opposes Self-Regulation of Investment Advisers
POGO has joined others in raising serious concerns about the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), the largest self-regulatory organization (SRO) for the securities industry. FINRA’s regulatory effectiveness is undermined by its inherent conflicts of interest, its l...
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Policy Letter
POGO and Partners Oppose House Bill that Allows FDA More Secrecy
The undersigned organizations concerned with openness and accountability are writing to urge you to remove or substantially narrow a provision of H.R. 5651, the Food and Drug Administration Reform Act of 2012, that needlessly prevents the public from having access to potential...
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Analysis
Lobbyists Call for Lobbying Reform
POGO recently sat down with Howard Marlowe, president of the American League of Lobbyists (ALL), to discuss ALL's recommendations for reforming the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (LDA). ALL's proposed reforms would force more lobbyists to disclose their lobbying activities a...
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Analysis
KBR May Be Abusing Indemnification Provision in Iraq Contract
U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D–OR) wants to know if defense contractor KBR is wasting taxpayer money in an effort to drag out lawsuits seeking to hold KBR accountable for exposing American soldiers to toxic chemicals in Iraq.
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Policy Letter
POGO and Groups Support Better Information on Clinical Trials
Our undersigned groups strongly support the Grassley Amendment 2129 to S. 3187, the Food and Drug Administration Safety and Innovation Act. Complete and timely reporting of clinical trial results is crucial not only to patients and their doctors, but also to the future of dru...