Frist Holds Firm
By Erick Posted in Republicans — Comments (1) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist is holding firm on his desire to see S. 2590 pass the Senate. S. 2590 is the Coburn-Obama bill (the "Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act") that would create an online clearing house of information searchable by anyone to see who is getting earmarks, who the contractors are working on the earmarks, how much they cost, etc. According to Senator Frist:
S. 2590 would create a single, easily searchable database capable of tracking approximately $1 trillion in federal grants, contracts, earmarks, and loans. Pork thrives in Washington when it can hide from the bright light of public scrutiny … when it can be quickly slipped into massive appropriations bills with little transparency and no public debate. That’s why the database proposed by this legislation would provide an invaluable tool for Americans frustrated with wasteful, unnecessary federal spending.
Many in the blogosphere – left and right – have rallied to support this crucial legislation, which is fitting, for no group better knows the power of technologically empowered grassroots activism. And, for reasons of policy and politics, many bloggers are rightly outraged that S. 2590 was shot down when I attempted to bring it up for a vote prior to the August recess.
The senator intends to push this issue forward in September, hold or no hold. Good for him. You can read more about Senator Frist's position on the issue here.
This is a really interesting one, because I find it somewhat ironic and disingenuous but it's just so difficult not to like something with "accountability" and "transparency" in the title, isn't it? But bear with me.
First, how much will this legislation cost, and who will be paid to create it? I admit ignorance on these points but obviously this is going to increase spending at the federal level, and not just in the form of a one time development cost, there will be additional ongoing yearly costs for maintenance, updates, and the effort required by federal employees on research and data entry.
Now add to that increase in federal spending the knowledge that we already have earmark databases (plural, more than one) that have been created and maintained by private organziations. Here are pointers to at least three easy finds: 1 - 2 - 3.
So why do we need to increase spending to provide something the private sector is already leading the way on?
Second, what is this legislation supposed to actually accomplish? In their own words:
A tool for what? To assist them with continued frustration? Can we talk about the title of the legislation and that word, "accountability"? Will any congressperson be held accountable for anything by this legislation? Will the legislation provide a mandated limit on the total dollar amount each congressperson is allowed to earmark? Will this tie into the budgeting process and be used as a tool to offset other spending in like amounts to earmarks that are proposed by congresspersons?
The sum of all this as I see it: smoke and mirrors legislation with a misleading title that duplicates numerous private sector efforts through increased federal spending which results in no net increase of accountability; i.e. a waste.
If the majority leader wants to do something serious about earmarks, he could start by getting his fellow R's to stop proposing them and stop voting for them. They are, afterall, the majority!