Last fall, the OpenTheGovernment.org coalition assembled a lengthy list of organizations and individuals, both liberal and conservative, who wrote to President Bush to urge him to put information about how Hurricane Katrina relief funds were being allocated (read the letter). This year, a new effort for increased transparency of federal funds spearheaded by four Senators is making its way through Congress. This effort will make all federal grant and contract information available to the public free of charge in a searchable, downloadable online format. Sens. Coburn (R-OK), Obama (D-IL), Carper (D-DE) and McCain (AZ) are sponsoring a bipartisan bill (S. 2590) that would require OMB to maintain a comprehesive website the public could search for information on federal financial assistance, including federal contracts and grants, by Jan. 1, 2007. (Read OMB Watch's Analysis for more details about the bill). OMB Watch strongly supports this legislation and is currently collecting endorsing organizations who support the bill and the public's right to timely, accurate information about individual contracts, grants, and other forms of government financial assistance. Read the letter of endorsement and contact OMB Watch if you wish to add your organization to the growing list of endorsers. The Examiner Editorial Endorsing Bill (May 30, 2006) OMB Watch's Analysis of S. 2590