Breaking News: Stimulus Bill Introduced with Accountability Provisions to Protect Taxpayers

In reading over the executive summary for the stimulus package that was just introduced by the House Appropriations Committee--which calls for $825 billion in spending and tax cuts to revive the struggling economy--we're pleased to announce that the bill includes crucial accountability provisions to protect taxpayers from wasteful spending and pork barrel projects.

The Committee's statement declares that “a historic level of transparency, oversight and accountability will help guarantee taxpayer dollars are spent wisely and Americans can see results for their investment.”

Here are a few highlights:

• Funds will be distributed to programs with proven track records and accountability measures already in place;
• All expenditures and announcements of contracts and grants must be posted on a special public website created by the new administration, as has been proposed by Good Jobs First and other groups; funding notifications must include details on the total cost and an explanation for why the project should be paid for with stimulus funds; and those who make funding decision must personally certify that taxpayer dollars are being used in a responsible fashion;
• A seven-member Recovery Act Accountability and Transparency Board, including Inspectors General and deputy cabinet secretaries, will be created to oversee the recovery effort and to report on any problems;
• IGs and the GAO will be provided with additional funding and access to review the recovery effort (we're still hopeful that Congress will give similar resources to the Special IG for the bailout);
• Federal and state whistleblowers who expose waste, fraud, and abuse will be protected from retaliation--a proposal that's being championed by the Make It Safe coalition; and
• The stimulus package will not include any earmarks--a concern that's been raised by Taxpayers for Common Sense and others.

Taxpayers have a right to know whether or not their money is being spent effectively and responsibly as part of the economic recovery effort, and we'll be watching closely to ensure that these accountability provisions are ultimately included in the final version of the stimulus bill.

-- Michael Smallberg

UPDATE: The full text of the bill is available here.  The accountability provisions begin on page 11.

Comments

[Axel]

Dear Readers, 1/15/2009

I am not a Lawyer and I have only very briefly read a few pages of this so-called 'Stimulus Bill with so-called Accountability Provisions to Protect Taxpayers' and I surmize that this Bill is most likely a hoodwinking and a seemingly completly and/or mostly fraud, waste and abuse towards Accountability and Taxpayers.

Aside from the main issues some additional concerns I would presume to be that;

1) The amounts to the Homeland Security, Department of Justice, Veterans Affairs ecetra are too insufficient, too minimal and obviously of no relevant consequence are mostly 1/10 of the next lowest distributions,

2) Without the passage of the HR985 'FEDERAL EMPLOYEE WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTION RESTORATION ACT'and the eventual implementation of the Sabersky Plan ther appears to be absolutely ZERO and no adequate funding for any Attorney required representation for the Whistleblower under the False claims Act and numerous other Law and US Court required Attorney representation!!!!! and also the GREAT RISK THAT MAY FALL UPON THE REPESENTATIVE ATTORNEY FROM THE/OUR US BAR ASSOCIATIONS!!!!! and funding thereof!!!!!! ecetra!!!!!!

My view it is well due if not past due and the time for the 'get real' with 'Oversight and Accountability' implications for the 'Change We Can Believe In'.

Thank you and all for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,
Axel
Axel V. Sabersky