 Transparency Act Is Big Victory
by Ron
Whether conservative or liberal, Republican or Democrat, few can argue
with a straight face that there isn't massive waste when it comes to the
federal government spending our taxpayer dollars.
But the ability for voters to track how and where their hard-earned tax
dollars are being spent is almost as difficult as a politician's ability
to practice fiscal restraint. (We said almost.)
For example, did you know that according to the General Services
Administration, the federal government subsidizes $300 billion in grants
to some 30,000 organizations? Public data on those grants is scattered
across innumerable sources, making it difficult, if not impossible, to
obtain.
Such lack of transparency often results in zero accountability for
Congressional appropriators and the bureaucratic agencies that
ultimately
cut the checks.
Fortunately, taxpayers just scored a significant victory that will help
address this problem.
President George W. Bush recently signed into law the Federal Funding
Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006. Unlike too many
euphemistically-titled Acts of Congress, the substance of which usually
result in more harm than good, this is one of those rare pieces of
legislation that will actually accomplish, well, federal funding
accountability and transparency.
Specifically, the Act provides for the full disclosure of all entities
and organizations receiving federal funds--including the amounts they
receive--on a website available to the public and maintained by the
Office of Management and Budget beginning in fiscal year 2007.
This one-stop, online clearinghouse will arm taxpayers with the tools
necessary to demand accountability from the federal budget process and
the programs it supports. In turn, it should force politicians to be
more attuned to the spending priorities of their constituents, rather
than continuing to act as fiscal rubber stamps on every wacky study and
ineffective program that does nothing but curry political favors at
taxpayers' expense.
It is no secret that the American people are fed up with the inability
of
this Congress to get any substantive work done. But for those Members
facing re-election, particularly those in the Senate, the Federal
Funding
Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 is at least something
positive they can point to as they beg for your vote between now and
November.
If only they had secured the borders, made permanent the tax cuts,
reduced America's dependence on foreign oil, protected people's homes
from government seizure, stood up to the United Nations by confirming
Ambassador John Bolton, passed the Line-Item Veto, ensured fair
up-or-down votes on all of the President's judicial nominees...
If only they had done half of those things, they would have a real story
to tell.
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