The quest to smoke out the Senator who is placing a "secret" hold on legislation to create a free, searchable, online database of all federal grants and contract continues today with a Cox News story that appeared in the Houston Chronicle. The story quote's OMBW own Gary Bass as saying: It really is outrageous to do this in the dead of night as Congress is recessing. The public has a right to know how the government spends money. Porkbusters 'Who's the Secret Holder?' page now lists 27 Senators as having publicly denied placing a hold on the legislation. If we assume a cosponsor of the bill would not place a hold on it, we can add in an additional 15 Senators, giving us 43 Senators. That means there are only 57 who could be placing the annonymous hold. You Can Help Unveil The Secret Holder Call the Capitol Hill switchboard (202.224.3121) and ask to be transfered to your Senators offices an ask them if they put the secret hold on S. 2590. When you get an answer, send me a note at ahughes @ ombwatch.org to let me know about it.