Without fanfare or forewarning, OMB has, as of this morning, put up its long-promised database on the number and cost of 2005 earmarks, displaying that information by agency and state. The website has very limited sortability functions. But most earmarks entries include a citation back to specific authorizing legislative or report language or, failing that, a citation summary. OMB says there's more to come, including "Browse authorization earmarks" and "Search Website full text" functions. It is fair to say that OMB has produced this database much more quickly than had been expected after missing the orginal March 12 deadline set out in its Janaury 25 memorandum. And the site is a completely comprehensive accounting of all 2005 earmarks (defined in Attachment B of the memorandum). This is a remarkable achievement in terms of advancing government spending transparency and, worth noting, of OMB's own initiative -- no statute or Presidential order compelled them to produce this database.