Thanks to the diligent efforts of Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK), a provision that would have undermined transparency in government spending will be removed from the final version of the House FY 2008 Transportation, HUD, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill. Cited as Section 193 of the appropriations bill, the provision would have prohibited the public as well as congressmen not on the Transportation-HUD appropriations committees from viewing agency budget justifications prior to May 31 of each year. For more information on the provision’s implications, read POGO’s fact-sheet (pdf).
Sen. Coburn reached an agreement yesterday with Rep. John Olver (D-MA), chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation-HUD, to strike the provision from the final bill. In a press release, Sen. Coburn stated:
Taxpayers, and elected representatives who don’t serve on the House or Senate Appropriations committees, have a right to access information about how the federal government plans to spend their money.
Also yesterday, just prior to Sen. Coburn and Rep. Olver's agreement, POGO and eleven other transparency and government oversight organizations sent a letter to senators requesting their support in removing Section 193 from the appropriations bill. That letter can be read here (pdf). For our press release, click here (pdf).
-- John Pruett
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