Obama helps us track $1,000,000,000,000 of federal spending

[killbotfactory]

Americans had a hard time finding out where their hard-earned tax dollars went. Until 2 days ago.

Now, thanks to USAspending.gov, a site created by the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 by Tom Coburn and Barack Obama, anyone can discover the pockets of federal dollars. The site tracks contracts, grants, earmarks, and loans.

What can we dig up? Read on for 7 examples (contracts with KBR/Halliburton, Tom Delay's pork, no bid contracts with defense contractors and even the government of Canada, spending on guided missiles, maintenance of dams, and stranger things including flags, perfumes, and hand tools). I also talk about how this fits into Sen. Obama's broader plans to make government transparent.

I know that both John Edwards and Hillary Clinton have both spoken about cleaning up Washington and making government more open, and I applaud them for speaking up on these causes. One of the reasons I support Barack Obama is that he has been working on these issues for many years and has a very strong record on ethics reform and government transparency. The opening of the USAspending.gov site is another example of Obama's real results, and gives us confidence that Obama can and will follow through on cleaning up Washington, taking on special interests and lobbyists, and restoring Americans' trust in the federal government.

more, including examples of spending, at the link: http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/12/15/54158/397/946/422120

[rucky]

1. This is something he should be boasting about. n/t

[sandnsea]

4. He has,

But he should be giving out the URL because I didn't realize this was live and I try to keep up with the wonk part of campaigns because I know campaigns usually don't.

[sandnsea]

2. Cool web site, shows Obama gets it done

In an environment where nothing is getting done, Obama shows how to make real change. This is a great web site, easy to use, and shows exactly who is getting what. When some local bigwig starts blathering about some law or other, people can go right to the source to prove it's because of some contract they're getting. This is awesome.

[killbotfactory]

3. And the guy he worked with, Coburn, is a conservative republican

It just goes to show you that you don't have to sacrifice your principles when you work with people in the opposite party.

[sandnsea]

5. People just beat the hell out of him

for working with Coburn and calling him a friend. I know. But this is what you can accomplish when you stay focused, respect people, and don't compromise your principles.

[TwilightGardener]

7. Sorry, I hate Coburn--I'm still not happy with Obama for working with

that war-mongering neocon dickwad, I don't care if Coburn considers himself some sort of fiscal watchdog.

[sandnsea]

8. That's crazy, it really is

There are only 100 people in the Senate. You either work with who's there to get things done, or you end up with what we've got.

[TwilightGardener]

11. I don't have a problem with Obama working with Republicans--

but he continually touts his "friendship" with Coburn, and that I find disturbing. It's minor, and one of the few things on which I disagree with Obama.

[sandnsea]

13. Continually?

I've heard him mention it once, and in reference to this legislation and the legislation to put the budget online. That isn't continually and is merely respectful. I doubt they're spending Christmas together or anything.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

6. John Kerry and John McCain are close friends

And they did amazing work for Vietnam vets and on missing POW/MIAs.

[sandnsea]

9. Well, were n/t

[msongs]

10. he ought to track it, he is responsible for it by his own votes nt

[jillan]

12. Thank you Obama!!!