Blog: The Fine Print / posts by Gavin Baker
Building the Next Generation of Open Government Tools
Feb 1, 2011 by Gavin Baker
When the Defense Department began funding research on computer networks in the 1960s and '70s, there was little inkling that it might revolutionize government transparency. Yet today, Internet technologies descended from that research are at the heart of open government efforts.
read in fullAdministration Looks to Build New Participation Website
Jan 25, 2011 by Gavin Baker
A government proposal would develop a new public participation website, with the working title "ExpertNet." OMB Watch filed comments responding to a request for information on the proposal from the General Services Administration, the White House Open Government Initiative and the Office of Management and Budget.
read in fullGet Ready for a Lot More Information on Government Performance
Dec 23, 2010 by Gavin Baker
The Government Efficiency, Effectiveness, and Performance Improvement Act, now awaiting President Obama's signature, will significantly expand the amount of information available to the public about government performance.
read in fullScience Package Addresses Access to Federally-Funded Research, Scientific Collections
Dec 21, 2010 by Gavin Baker
The House today approved the Senate's amendments to the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act (HR 5116). The bill now heads to President Obama for his signature. Among a variety of science-related topics, the COMPETES reauthorization contains two provisions about public access to federal science.
read in fullGovernment Launches New Tool to Improve Transparency of Foreign Aid Spending
Dec 16, 2010 by Gavin Baker
Today, the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) launched the Foreign Assistance Dashboard, a new tool to shed light on U.S. foreign aid spending.
read in fullWhistleblower Protections Pass Senate; Advocates Call for Swift House Passage
Dec 14, 2010 by Gavin Baker
On Dec. 10, the Senate approved the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act, S. 372. A diverse coalition of groups, including OMB Watch, has called for the House to move quickly to pass the bill as well.
read in fullPublic Database of Product Safety Complaints Coming Next Year
Nov 24, 2010 by Gavin Baker
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) voted today to create a public database of product safety complaints. The database, which will be located at SaferProducts.gov, is scheduled to launch in March 2011.
read in fullThree Months Later, Missing "Oil Budget" Methodology Released
Nov 23, 2010 by Gavin Baker
The government responders to the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill today released its report on the "oil budget" tool used to calculate what happened to the spilled oil. Unlike the version of the report released on Aug. 4, this one comes peer-reviewed and with methodology.
read in fullAnother Assessment Finds U.S. Among Least Transparent of Foreign Aid Donors
Oct 26, 2010 by Gavin Baker
A new international study ranks the U.S. 25th out of 30 donors in the transparency of its foreign aid spending.
read in fullTell the Government to Say Cheese
Oct 25, 2010 by Gavin Baker
Attempts to prevent citizens from recording the government have been rebuked in two recent cases.
read in full
