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Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Stimulus Analysis Goes Online

Washington promises detailed data on the $787 billion in spending, tax cuts
By David Talbot

Barack Obama came to office promising to "use cutting-edge technologies to create a new level of transparency, accountability, and participation" in government. Now, that pledge is about to get its first real test.

The administration has just launched a website to explain the details of the $787 billion stimulus package that Obama signed into law yesterday. Right now the site lays out the package of tax cuts and spending in broad-brush terms. But it promises to eventually provide maps, charts, graphics--and raw data in exportable form--to show which states, Congressional districts, and even contractors are receiving the money.

This would be a first-of-a-kind technology effort by the federal government. The body overseeing these data dumps will be the Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board, a panel of government inspectors that will be created as part of the stimulus law.

"Instead of politicians doling out money behind closed doors, the important decisions about where taxpayer dollars are invested will be yours to scrutinize," Obama pledges in a You Tube video posted on the site.

Comments

  • Transparent???
    A 1080 page bill forced to a vote 18 hours after being delivered?  That's tranparency?  The actual cost over 10 years is about $3 TRILLION.  The money to pay for it comes from...China, Russia, the Middle East, who exactly?  And this is just the first installment.  They're already talking about ACT II.
    Rate this comment: 12345

    RD
    02/19/2009
    Posts:114
    Avg Rating:
    3/5
  • History just started?
    It is would be funny if it wasn't so pathetic how for the republicans, history just stated about 2 weeks ago.

    Where was this concern for transparency when the Bush Crime family was running the whole planet into the ground? Where are the cries for a full accounting of the TARP money or 2+ trillion doled out by the FED? Where was the concern when billions disappeared in Iraq?
    Rate this comment: 12345

    jmaximus9
    02/21/2009
    Posts:83
    Avg Rating:
    3/5
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