Blog: The Fine Print / Revenue & Spending
DATA Act Would be a Setback for Spending Transparency
Jun 21, 2011 by Craig Jennings
It has been a whirlwind 8 days since Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) introduced a bill to reform federal spending transparency. On June 13, Issa introduced the Digital Accountability and Transparency Act (DATA Act), held a hearing the next day, and will mark up the bill tomorrow in his Oversight and Government Reform Committee.
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DATA Act Scheduled for Markup in House
Jun 21, 2011 by Sam Rosen-Amy
Tomorrow morning the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee will markup the Digital Accountability and Transparency Act (DATA Act). The DATA Act seeks to expand upon the Recovery Act by turning the temporary Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board into a permanent “Federal Accountability and Spending Transparency Board” (FAST Board), which will have authority over all federal spending transparency and will administer USAspending.gov. The bill also expands upon the Recovery Act’s recipient reporting model, bringing it to the entire federal government.
read in fullNew FDA Report Illustrates How Spending Cuts Threaten Food Safety
Jun 21, 2011 by Katie Greenhaw
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released a report yesterday recognizing the challenges in regulating imported products. The report acknowledges that the agency does not have "the resources to adequately keep pace with the pressures of globalization."
read in fullBig Business Still Fighting Like Mad Against Disclosure EO*
Jun 17, 2011 by Gary Therkildsen*
On Wednesday, a veritable who's who of business interests wrote to the Senate Armed Services Committee to cheerlead an anticipated amendment from Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME) and Rob Portman (R-OH). Expected during markup of the fiscal year (FY) 2012 Senate defense authorization act, the amendment would prohibit the Department of Defense (DOD) from implementing President Obama's draft executive order (EO) on contractor disclosure, should he sign it.
read in fullSpending Bill Would Hide Consumer Safety Risks, Money in Politics
Jun 16, 2011 by Gavin Baker
Consumer product safety risks would be concealed and influence peddling in government contracting would remain out of public view under the provisions of the fiscal year (FY) 2012 spending bill approved today by the House Financial Services and General Government appropriations subcommittee.
read in fullHouse Subcommittee Restores Small Portion of E-Gov Funding, but More Resources Still Needed
Jun 16, 2011 by Sam Rosen-Amy
The House Financial Services and General Government appropriations subcommittee today approved its fiscal year 2012 spending bill. The legislation would slightly restore funding for critical government transparency projects, but the full ramifications of the subcommittee's actions are unclear.
read in fullWaPo on the Drivers of Debt
Jun 15, 2011 by Gary Therkildsen*
Last week, I noted the Washington Post's flawed execution of journalistic "even-handedness" in its editorial on President Obama's draft executive order (EO) on contractor disclosure. It seems the paper is once again leveling partisan disparities with a snazzy new interactive graphic on the drivers of our nation's debt, titled, "Votes that pushed us into the red."
read in fullIssa, Cummings, Devaney Agree: We Need E-Gov Funding
Jun 14, 2011 by Gavin Baker
In a hearing on federal spending transparency which just concluded, House Oversight Committee ranking member Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD) entered our letter signed by more than 30 transparency groups in support of restoring the Electronic Government Fund into the hearing record. The E-Gov Fund supports important government websites such as USAspending.gov, the IT Dashboard, Data.gov, and Performance.gov.
read in fullAdministration Taking Recovery Accountability Government-wide
Jun 13, 2011 by Sean Moulton
This morning, Vice President Joe Biden announced a major initiative to identify and eliminate government waste – the “Campaign to Cut Waste.” As Biden was announcing the initiative, President Obama issued a new executive order authorizing the main components of the campaign. The expansion of accountability measures for federal spending is a welcome and productive move by the administration.
read in fullOpen Government Groups Urge Congress to Restore Funding for Transparency Efforts
Jun 13, 2011 by Sam Rosen-Amy
OMB Watch today released a letter, signed by more than 30 transparency and good government groups, calling for restoration of the funding for the Electronic Government Fund (E-Gov Fund). This fund supports important government websites such as USAspending.gov, the IT Dashboard, Data.gov, and Performance.gov.
