Federal Anti-SLAPP Bill Could Help Bloggers, Freelancers

April 7, 2010–A bill to protect journalists and citizens against "Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation" suits has been introduced in Congress but is unlikely to go far unless more members get behind it.

Maryland Legislature Threatens Law Clinic For Defending Chesapeake Bay

April 7, 2010–In the face of public outrage (and press coverage), the legislature partially backed down — but kept a requirement that the law clinic report to the legislature on whom it represented.

New Move Afoot To Let Taxpayers Read CRS Reports They Pay For

April 7, 2010–A proposed bill would give the public better access to information about members' personal financial information, travel and gift reports, funding earmarks, committee work and reports, recorded floor votes, lobbyist registration and disclosure, and political contributions.

Money Flows As Elections Loom

March 31, 2010–The newly upgraded and expanded MAPLight.org will help you make connections between lobbying and campaign contributions and the actions of members of the US House and Senate, including their votes on specific bills and issues.

EPA Releases HERO Risk Assessment Database

March 24, 2010–The Health and Environmental Research Online database compiles references to scientific studies that EPA uses in making regulatory decisions.

Senate Trio's Climate Bill Said To Hide Info on Fracking Poisons

March 24, 2010–A March 23, 2010, Greenwire article reports that the draft Kerry-Lieberman-Graham climate bill may include language to keep potentially toxic ingredients from gas drilling secret from the public whose health may be harmed by them.

More Than 550 Utilities Now Using Potentially Safer Chemicals

March 17, 2010–The plants, ranging from very large to very small, are now using chemicals and processes such as liquid chlorine bleach, calcium hypochlorite, or ultraviolet light — allegedly making ~40 million people living nearby safer.

States Push Congress, EPA To End Toxic Trade Secrets

March 10, 2010–Do commercial products we have body contact with contain toxic chemicals? In too many cases, states and environmentalists are saying, the federal government forbids consumers from knowing.

White House May Urge Greater NEPA Transparency

March 10, 2010–New NEPA policies proposed in February by the Council on Environmental Quality cover climate impacts; findings of no impact and requirements for monitoring; categorical exclusions; and better tools for reporting to the public on NEPA activities.

EPA Launches New Online Regulatory Gateway

March 3, 2010–The site offers some improvements over poring through the Federal Register, but it's not comprehensive, topics are too broad, and there's poor differentiation between topics and constituencies. On the plus side, visitors can comment on in-process regulations, get alerts about specific regulations, attend online public meetings, and sort in-process regs.