POGO Staff
Author
POGO signs Letter to Senate Majority Leader Frist to improve public access to federal spending information
Dear Majority Leader Frist:
On behalf of the millions of taxpaying citizens represented by the groups signed below, we strongly urge you to bring S. 2590, the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act, to the Senate floor for a vote. The bill, sponsored by Senators Tom Coburn (R-OK) and Barack Obama (D-IL), would direct the Office of Management and Budget to create a publicly-available website that would list every entity receiving federal financial assistance, such as grants or contracts, and the totals awarded for each fiscal year. Such a website would entail very little cost and would greatly increase transparency in the distribution of government funding. At last, those who most deserve to know about this process – the American people – would have a tool to examine and evaluate the federal government's funding decisions and priorities.
And yet, after being "hotlined" for unanimous passage, the bill was suddenly derailed when a secret hold was placed, indicating a Senator would object to it on the floor. After weeks of investigation, ordinary citizens used phone calls and several websites to narrow the holds down to Senators Ted Stevens (R-AK) and Robert Byrd (D-WV). Both Senators then admitted publicly to the holds. And yet, Stevens has renewed his hold and, along with an anonymous Democrat, stands in the way of this common-sense legislation.
This unprecedented flurry of "outside the Beltway" action from across the political spectrum suggests that support for this bill is strong among the general public. Advocates from all ideological points of view share the common notion that transparency of and public access to government information is vital to the health of our political system. Through letters such as this one, over 110 groups – of all ideological persuasions – have conveyed to the Senate their strong support for this measure.
Citizens should no longer be forced to navigate the confusing labyrinth of bureaucracy just to find out how their tax dollars are spent. Furthermore, internal conflicts and parliamentary maneuvers should not prevent the passage of a bill with such widespread support. Americans of all political stripes have spoken with a unified voice in favor of transparency and accountability. Now, they call upon you to bring S. 2590 to the Senate floor for a vote as soon as possible.
We thank you for your public commitments to bring this bill to the floor and want to work with you to ensure this important legislation receives a straightforward vote when the Senate reconvenes.
Sincerely,
| John Berthoud, President National Taxpayers Union | Steven Aftergood, Director Federation of American Scientists |
| Gary D. Bass, Executive Director OMB Watch | Erich Pica Friends of the Earth |
| Ashok Mehan ADEZZA Federal Consulting | Tom Devine, Legal Director Government Accountability Project |
| Emily Ferry, Executive Director Alaska Transportation Priorities Project | Richard O. Rowland, President Grassroot Institute of Hawaii |
| J. William Lauderback, Executive Vice President The American Conservative Union | Rick Hind, Legislative Director Greenpeace |
| Scott Barstow, Director of Public Policy American Counseling Association | Jon Coupal, President Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association |
| Darryl Fagin, Legislative Director Americans for Democratic Action | Kevin McLaughlin, President Iowans for Discounted Taxes |
| Mary Alice Baish Washington Affairs Representative American Association of Law Libraries | Michael D. Ostrolenk, National Director Liberty Coalition |
| Helena R. Berger, Chief Operating Officer American Association of People with Disabilities | Patrick Sammon, Executive Vice President Log Cabin Republicans |
| Dr. Jane Orient, Executive Director American Association of Physicians and Surgeons | Maria Powell Madison Environmental Justice Organization |
| F. Patricia Callahan President and General Counsel American Association of Small Property Owners | Richard Falknor, Executive Vice President Maryland Taxpayers Association |
| Kevin Goldberg American Society of Newspaper Editors | Forest Thigpen, President Mississippi Center for Public Policy |
| Tim Phillips, President Americans for Prosperity | Charles Davis, Executive Director National Freedom of Information Coalition |
| Timothy Wise, President Arlington County Taxpayers Association | Greg Speeter, Executive Director National Priorities Project |
| Richard Karpel, Executive Director Association of Alternative News Weeklies | Doug Kagan, Chairman Nebraska Taxpayers for Freedom |
| Prue Adler, Associate Executive Director Association of Research Libraries | Marge Clark, BVM, Lobbyist NETWORK: National Catholic Social Justice Lobby |
| Bruce Martin Buddhists for Fair Taxation | Joel Kupferman, Executive Director New York Environmental Law & Justice Project |
Peter Scheer, Executive Director California First Amendment Coalition | Michael Mariotte, Executive Director Nuclear Information and Resource Service |
| Terry Francke, General Counsel Californians Aware | Patrice McDermott, Director OpenTheGovernment.org |
| Charlie Cray, Director Center for Corporate Policy | Bob Barr, Chairman Patriots to Restore Checks and Balances |
| Ari Schwartz, Deputy Director Center for Democracy and Technology | Marjorie A. Parker Peace Coalition of Southern Illinois |
| J. Bradley Jansen, Director Center for Financial Privacy and Human Rights | Monica Moore, Program Director Pesticide Action Network North America Regional Center |
| Jeffrey Mazzella, President Center for Individual Freedom | James A. Landrith, Jr., Founder Pious Pagan Publishing |
| Robert E. Wordlaw, Executive Director Chicago Jobs Council | Danielle Brian, Executive Director Project On Government Oversight |
| Barbara Anderson, Executive Director Citizens for Limited Taxation | Timothy J. Schmaltz, Coordinator/CEO Protecting Arizona 's Family Coalition |
| Doug Bandow, Vice President of Policy Citizen Outreach | Peter Suber, Open Access Project Director Public Knowledge |
| Debbie Weinstein Coalition on Human Needs | Lucy Dalglish Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press |
| Chellie Pingree, President and CEO Common Cause | William Westmiller, Chairman Republican Liberty Caucus |
| Lawrence G. Sandoval, Staff Representative Communication Workers of America | Paul Gessing, President Rio Grande Foundation |
| Keith Runyon, President Pro Tem Concerned United Taxpayers | Nick Sauvie, Executive Director ROSE Community Development (OR) |
| Naomi E. Shaiken, President Connecticut Call to Action | Kathy Burns Sciencecorps |
| Howard Phillips, Chairman The Conservative Caucus, Inc | Ellen Miller, Executive Director Sunlight Foundation |
| Bob Shavelson Cook Inletkeeper (AK) | Steve Ellis, Vice President of Programs Taxpayers for Common Sense Action |
| Thomas Schatz, President Council for Citizens Against Government Waste | David Strom, President Taxpayers League of Minnesota |
| John Isaacs, President Council for a Livable World | Rick Durham, President Tennessee Tax Revolt, Inc |
| Edward J. Spar, Executive Director Council of Professional Associations on Federal Statistics | John Chelen, President Unison Institute |
| Jim Babka, President DownsizeDC.org | Jeff Blum, Executive Director US Action |
| Phyllis Schlafly, President and Founder Eagle Forum | Dane von Breichenruchardt, Executive Director U.S. Bill of Rights Foundation |
| John Richard Essential Information | Ed Mierzwinski, Consumer Program Director U.S. Public Interest Research Group |
| John McLaughry, President Ethan Allen Institute | Craig Gillette VelvetRevolution.us |
| Bob Williams, President Evergreen Freedom Foundation | Rose Bogaert, Chair Wayne County Taxpayers Association, Inc |
| Sylvia G. Ray, Executive Director Women's Center of Fayetteville (AR) |
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