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
Gary D. Bass
Executive Director
OMB Watch
| Ashok Mehan ADEZZA Federal Consulting | Richard Karpel Executive Director Association of Alternative News Weeklies |
Emily Ferry | Prue Adler Associate Executive Director Association of Research Libraries |
| J. William Lauderback Executive Vice President The American Conservative Union | Bruce Martin |
| Scott Barstow Director of Public Policy American Counseling Association | Peter Scheer |
| Darryl Fagin Legislative Director Americans for Democratic Action | Terry Francke General Counsel Californians Aware |
| Mary Alice Baish Washington Affairs Representative American Association of Law Libraries | Charlie Cray Director Center for Corporate Policy |
Helena R. Berger | Ari Schwartz Deputy Director Center for Democracy and Technology |
| Dr. Jane Orient Executive Director American Association of Physicians and Surgeons | J. Bradley Jansen Director Center for Financial Privacy and Human Rights |
| F. Patricia Callahan President and General Counsel American Association of Small Property Owners | Jeffrey Mazzella |
| Lynne Bradley* Director of Government Relations American Libraries Association | Robert E. Wordlaw Executive Director Chicago Jobs Council |
| Kevin Goldberg American Society of Newspaper Editors | Barbara Anderson Executive Director Citizens for Limited Taxation |
| Tim Phillips President Americans for Prosperity | Doug Bandow Vice President of Policy Citizen Outreach |
| Timothy Wise President Arlington County Taxpayers Association | Debbie Weinstein Coalition on Human Needs |
| Chellie Pingree President and CEO Common Cause | Bob Williams President Evergreen Freedom Foundation |
| Lawrence G. Sandoval Staff Representative Communication Workers of America | Steven Aftergood Director Federation of American Scientists |
| Keith Runyon President Pro Tem Concerned United Taxpayers | Erich Pica Friends of the Earth |
| Naomi E. Shaiken President Connecticut Call to Action | Tom Devine Legal Director Government Accountability Project |
| Howard Phillips Chairman The Conservative Caucus, Inc | Richard O. Rowland President Grassroot Institute of Hawaii |
| Bob Shavelson Cook Inletkeeper (AK) | Rick Hind Legislative Director Greenpeace |
| Thomas Schatz President Council for Citizens Against Government Waste | Jon Coupal President Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association |
John Isaacs | Kevin McLaughlin |
Edward J. Spar | Michael D. Ostrolenk |
| Jim Babka President DownsizeDC.org | Patrick Sammon |
| Phyllis Schlafly President and Founder Eagle Forum | Maria Powell Madison Environmental Justice Organization |
| John Richard Essential Information | Richard Falknor Executive Vice President Maryland Taxpayers Association |
| John McLaughry President Ethan Allen Institute | Forest Thigpen |
| Charles Davis Executive Director National Freedom of Information Coalition | Timothy J. Schmaltz Coordinator/CEO Protecting Arizona's Family Coalition |
| Greg Speeter Executive Director National Priorities Project | Peter Suber Open Access Project Director Public Knowledge |
| Doug Kagan Chairman Nebraska Taxpayers for Freedom | Lucy Dalglish Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press |
| Marge Clark, BVM Lobbyist NETWORK: National Catholic Social Justice Lobby | William Westmiller Chairman Republican Liberty Caucus |
| Joel Kupferman Executive Director New York Environmental Law & Justice Project | Paul Gessing President Rio Grande Foundation |
| Michael Mariotte Executive Director Nuclear Information and Resource Service | Nick Sauvie Executive Director ROSE Community Development (OR) |
| Patrice McDermott Director OpenTheGovernment.org | Kathy Burns Sciencecorps |
| Bob Barr Chairman Patriots to Restore Checks and Balances | Ellen Miller Executive Director Sunlight Foundation |
| Marjorie A. Parker Peace Coalition of Southern Illinois | Steve Ellis Vice President of Programs Taxpayers for Common Sense Action |
Monica Moore | David Strom President Taxpayers League of Minnesota |
| James A. Landrith, Jr. Founder Pious Pagan Publishing | Rick Durham President Tennessee Tax Revolt, Inc |
| Glenn Reynolds and NZ Bear Founders Porkbusters.org | John Chelen President Unison Institute |
| Danielle Brian Executive Director Project on Government Oversight | Jeff Blum Executive Director US Action |
| Dane von Breichenruchardt Executive Director U.S. Bill of Rights Foundation | |
| Ed Mierzwinski Consumer Program Director U.S. Public Interest Research Group | |
| Craig Gillette VelvetRevolution.us | |
| Rose Bogaert Chair Wayne County Taxpayers Association, Inc | |
| Sylvia G. Ray Executive Director Women's Center of Fayetteville (AR) | |
| -------------------------------- * Signed 9/7/06 |