Sunday, August 20, 2006
Letter to Congress - Federal Budget Database Website
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Message sent to the following recipients:
Senator Cornyn
Senator Hutchison
Representative Edwards
Mr. President
Message text follows:
Steve Harris
[address omitted]
August 20, 2006
[recipient address was inserted here]
Dear [recipient name was inserted here],
There is a bill in the U.S.Senate (S 2590) which would allow citizens to
go online at a single site and see how our taxes are being spent. However,
one or more Senators, acting in secrecy, put a hold on the bill and
refused to allow it to come up for debate and action.
The bill, introduced by Sens. Coburn of Oklahoma and Obama of Illinois,
would create a website database with access to information on almost all
federal spending. Just before the annual August recess, the bill was
"hotlined". Under "hotline", a bill passes as long as nobody secretly
objects to its passage. The Coburn/Obama bill did not pass before recess,
which means that a secret "hold" was placed on the bill to prevent its
passage.
I have no problem with matters such as security or personnel being
discussed in secret, but allowing a Senator to secretly hold a bill just
doesn't seem the way the Senate should work. If a Senator opposes a bill,
he or she should do so publicly and explain why.
The bill has a bipartisan list of prominent co-sponsors including: Senate
President Bill Frist, R-Tenn., and Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and
possible presidential hopefuls Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., Sen. Evan
Bayh, D-Ind., and Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. The bill was approved July 27
by the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.
The House approved a similar measure in June, but its version of the
database would include information only on grants. Sponsors in the Senate
are working with House members to iron out this difference.
I would like to see the final version of this bill look like S. 2590 to
give transparency to government spending. I want to know if either of my
Senators placed the "hold" on this bill, and I want all of my elected
officials to support the final version.
Sincerely,
Steve Harris
Message sent to the following recipients:
Senator Cornyn
Senator Hutchison
Representative Edwards
Mr. President
Message text follows:
Steve Harris
[address omitted]
August 20, 2006
[recipient address was inserted here]
Dear [recipient name was inserted here],
There is a bill in the U.S.Senate (S 2590) which would allow citizens to
go online at a single site and see how our taxes are being spent. However,
one or more Senators, acting in secrecy, put a hold on the bill and
refused to allow it to come up for debate and action.
The bill, introduced by Sens. Coburn of Oklahoma and Obama of Illinois,
would create a website database with access to information on almost all
federal spending. Just before the annual August recess, the bill was
"hotlined". Under "hotline", a bill passes as long as nobody secretly
objects to its passage. The Coburn/Obama bill did not pass before recess,
which means that a secret "hold" was placed on the bill to prevent its
passage.
I have no problem with matters such as security or personnel being
discussed in secret, but allowing a Senator to secretly hold a bill just
doesn't seem the way the Senate should work. If a Senator opposes a bill,
he or she should do so publicly and explain why.
The bill has a bipartisan list of prominent co-sponsors including: Senate
President Bill Frist, R-Tenn., and Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and
possible presidential hopefuls Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., Sen. Evan
Bayh, D-Ind., and Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. The bill was approved July 27
by the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.
The House approved a similar measure in June, but its version of the
database would include information only on grants. Sponsors in the Senate
are working with House members to iron out this difference.
I would like to see the final version of this bill look like S. 2590 to
give transparency to government spending. I want to know if either of my
Senators placed the "hold" on this bill, and I want all of my elected
officials to support the final version.
Sincerely,
Steve Harris
posted by Steve Harris, 3:17 PM
0 Comments:
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