US budget cuts reduce publications, news fare

The government, in another belt-tightening move, is getting more stingy with the publications and news releases it traditionally distributes to the public free.

In November, the Office of Management and Budget helped agencies scrap more than 900 of their publications for an estimated saving of $30 million.

The latest target is news releases. Although the releases are theoretically designed for the news media, regulatory agency releases are often scrutinized by trade organizations, corporations, and law firms for an accurate rendering of the day's events.