Yesterday the House, under suspension of the rules, passed H.R 5060 - a one-sided bill sponsored by Reps. Roy Blunt (R-MO) and Tom Davis (R-VA) that would require all domestic grants made by the federal government to be posted to a new free, searchable public website. Despite intense efforts, OMB Watch and other partners were unable to get the bill sponsors to add language requiring federal contracts data to be including in a simliar fashion - as a much better and more genuine Senate bill would require. OMB Watch is strongly supportive of the Senate bill. Even at this point, it's unclear why Mr. Blunt and Mr. Davis believe disclosure of federal spending on grants requires transparency to the public, but federal spending on contracts does not? What exactly are they afraid will be reveiled? What are they hiding? Disclosure, transparency, and access to government information are themes of good government properly ordered regardless of political ideology or party affiliation. Sens. Coburn and McCain - the Republican sponsors of the Senate bill realize this, as do the 43 conservative organizations who pledged their support to the Coburn effort. Federal contracts need to be disclosed to the public.