A March 31 article entitled Transparency Takes a Hit by Robert Bluey of Heritage supports an idea we've offered below. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) produced thorough reports on earmarks in appropriations acts in FYs 94, 96, 98, 2000, 02, 04, 05, and 06, calculating the number and dollar value of earmarks originating both from the Executive Branch and from Congress. But last month, CRS suddenly decided to desist with these reports, citing reasons that defy comprehension. Per Bluey:

With Tax Day 2007 almost a week away, policy experts, legislators, and the media are examining the biggest anomaly in the U.S. tax code: the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT). Aimed at the 155 richest families who paid zero taxes in 1969, the AMT failed to reach 2,824 untaxed rich families in 2003, while the numbers paying it topped three million.

The next steps for the OMB earmarks database team are clear and easily accomplished -- moving quickly to add the FY 2006 earmarks to the database, this time including earmarks requested by the Bush administration. How easy would it be to do this? Well, a quick look at the Congressional Research Service memo of March 6, entitled "Earmarks in the FY 2006 Appropriation Acts," obtained by OMB Watch, suggests that it's already been done.

Tax day is coming up; want to be disgusted by what your income taxes are actually paying for? Check out this new report from the National Priorities Project.