Transparency Legislation
The Commitment to a more open and accountable government manifests itself in various pieces of legislation introduced by both Democrats and Republicans. Sunshine.GOP.gov seeks to highlight some pieces of legislation in the 111th Congress that would increase transparency at the federal level.
H. Res 276 Earmark Reform Resolution
Rep. Devin Nunes (R-CA)
Requires that all earmark requests be submitted to the Clerk in writing and limits each member to a maximum of ten per session. Those requests are then placed by the Clerk in a online searchable database for public review.
H.R. 311 Spending Reform Act of 2009
Rep. Kevin Brady (R-TX)
Establishes a commission to study and make recommendations about waste and redundancy in the executive branch. As well as make reforms to the budgeting and earmarking processes.
H. Res. 440 Amending the Rules of the House of Representatives to strengthen the public disclosure of all earmark requests.
Reps. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) & Jackie Speier (D-CA)
This bill would amend House rules to require greater online disclosure by both members and committees of any earmark before it can be included in any legislation.
H.R. 486 Judicial Transparency and Ethics Enhancement Act of 2009
Rep. James Sensenbrenner (R-WI)
Creates the position of Inspector General of the Federal Judiciary to investigate corruption within the Judiciary. This IG would be appointed by the Chief Justice to satisfy the constitutionally mandated separation of powers.
H. Res. 554 Post all Bills Online for 72 Hours Before Voting on Them
Reps. John Culberson, (R-TX) & Brian Baird, (D-WA)
Requires that all emergency legislation be posted online in its final form in for at least 72 hours before coming to a vote.
H.R. 557 United Nations Transparency, Accountability, and Reform Act of 2009
Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL)
To promote reforms at the UN non-voluntary contributions would be withheld and a US Inspector General position would be created. Additional measures to open the books of the UN would have to be adopted to restore US funding.
H.R. 625 Homeland Security Transparency Act of 2009
Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY)
Requires recipients of grants from DHS to submit quarterly reports as to how the grant funds were spent. Those reports would then be posted online at DHS.gov to allow for public scrutiny.
H. Res. 835 Committees Must Post Bill Text Online with 24 hours of Adoption
Rep. Lynn Jenkins (R-KY)
Requires that all text adopted by a House committee be posted online with 24 hours of being adopted by that committee.
H. Res. 847 Opening Health Care Negotiations to the Public
Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL)
Requires that discussions of assembling the final health care bill take place in public to ensure that the American people are able to view the process.
H.Res. 869 Bringing Cameras into Rules Committe
Rep. Charlie Dent (R-PA)
The House Rules Committee is the only committee that both does not focus heavily on Classified matters and does not have video cameras in the committee room. This bill would install those cameras.
H.R. 1207 Federal Reserve Transparency Act of 2009
Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX)
Compels the Comptroller General to conduct an audit of the Board of Governors and the federal reserve banks and make a complete report to Congress.
H.R. 1242 Additional Monitoring and Accountability for The Troubled Assets Relief Program
Reps. Peter King (R-NY) and Carolyn Maloney (D-NY)
Expands the reporting to be made to Congress and the Inspector General about the use of taxpayer funds in the Troubled Assets Relief Program.
H.R. 1472 TARP and ARRA Reporting Waste and Prevention Act
Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN)
Requires all entities receiving funding under TARP or ARRA to submit a complete report within 30 days as to how those funds were spent. A database of all of this information is created and an abuse hotline is established.
H.R. 2249 Health Care Price Transparency Promotion Act of 2009
Rep. Michael Burgess (R-TX) and Rep. Gene Green (D-TX)
Requires providers of medical services to make clear what the out of pocket costs will be for a course of treatment over a given period of time.
H.R. 2255 Unfunded Mandates Information and Transparency Act of 2009
Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC)
Requires a more careful assessment and public disclosure of the various costs (both direct and indirect) of legislation and regulations.
H.R. 2392 Government Information Transparency Act
Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA)
To improve the effectiveness of the Government's collection, analysis, and dissemination of business information by using modern interactive data technologies.
H.R. 3268 Earmark Transparency and Accountability Reform Act
Rep. Dave Reichert (R-WA) & Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA)
To amend the Rules of the House of Representatives and the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 to increase earmark transparency and accountability, and for other purposes.
H.R. 3300 Derivative Trading Accountability and Disclosure Act
Rep. Michael McMahon (D-NY)
To provide increased transparency and regulatory requirements for the trading of certain derivative financial instruments.
All of this "earmark" BS needs to stop. One bill, one subject, no riders or additions allowed, unless they are a modification to the subject of the bill! This tacking on of pork spending to important bills, so that Senators and Representatives are more or less forced to vote for them is inappropriate. Instead, you have what, some dozen bills above to try to control it? Boy, that is a legislators solution to a simple problem.
One bill, one subject, then we know who is doing what and they will have to answer to the people, unless you don't want to answer to the people. I'm thinking that a bunch of legislators will learn what it means to "answer to the people" next year and in 2012, given what is going on now, which as far as I am concerned, is as corrupt, if not more so, then many of the business practices that have lead to our current economic problems.
Money is a finite commodity and both Republicans and Democrats need to learn that lesson. Taking what one person has worked their fingers to the bone for to give it to some no load who wants to sit on the couch and watch TV is just WRONG. If that is what they want, let them move to Europe.
Of course, if I had a sweetheart retirement like legislators do, I probably wouldn't worry about it either. What was it Joan of Arch said, "Let them eat cake"?
Sorry to sound bitter, but I am.
Did this legislation pass?
It is apparent that transparency is some word that our new president thought would be good for his election and it may have helped.But the bigger picture should be how untransparent this administration really is and make it specific. The site is great hope we have many hits.
Here you go Michael.
http://www.opensecrets.org/news/2009/08/capital-eye-opener-friday-augu-1.html
Mr. Hogg: while I am in agreement with you, your statements would be much more creditable if you had your history correct. First....it is Joan of ARC, not Arch.
Second....she was not the one whom you quoted about eating cake. I could be wrong but I think it was Marie Antoinette. And of course, the cake was actually a bread of some sort.. Good luck! GM Jabbora, Spokane, WA
26 August 2009
First, it is immorally dishonest as well as irresponsible to pass legislation and law, without reading it first. The voters should not have to wait until an election to throw out these bums when they fail to do the job we elect them to do. Secondly, the government should never be allowed to pass a law on any citizen whereby the legislator is exempt from having to abide. Thirdly, all pensions should be capped at $50K regardless of the years of service...it is after all a service not a job. Fourthly, when the judicial branch leaves the constitution and begins legislating from the bench instead of interpreting the constitution, the legislative branch has the responsibility, IAW the constitution, to swat it down; otherwise one of these two branches is useless. There must be a law to limit the life-time appointment of these activist judges to a one, 6 year term. The same law should be enacted with the presidency. This would eliminate campaigning in office every two years. Fifthly, the 17th amendment should be killed and the states given back their rights to appoint their own Senators; we the people already have our representatives called congressmen. Sixthly, kill the IRS and let's get something more fair like the flat tax or fair tax. A national sales tax is better than this immoral thievery. Seventh, any election conducted and found to be fraudulent, i.e. dead people voting, invalidates the election and should be nullified. This should carry a minimum 25 year sentence if found guilty of this kind of participation. Eighth, census questions should be limited only to how many are in a household and not how one feels about the constitution or does the constitution no longer serve a purpose. Tax paying individuals who work in the US that have attended our schools, via worker programs, have legally sought citizenship, abided by the rules should be allowed citizenship. Illegals, gang members, and law breakers however, should not be counted in a census as to increase the size of a state's delegate count. This is unfair to small delegate states and should warrant a law suit. Ninthly, all privately owned property shall be regarded as sacred and no government has the right through imminent domain to steal a citizen’s property. Private property or land ownership should be a prerequisite for any voter to participate in an election. And finally, any executive branch that interferes with the firing of a private CEO's small or big business, or selectively shutting down businesses that did not support his or her campaign, shall be regarded as an impeachable offense, removed from office, and jailed. Sir, this is where I'd start and it’s just the beginning.
F. Stan Jones USAF Ret
7622 High Road
Sims NC 27880
Thank you, G.M. Jaborra, for your correction of Michael Hogg's historical facts. I do not agree with him at all. Yes, there are unmotivated slackers out there who will take advantage of the system to their own end, but there is also the "working poor" who maintain 2 and 3 jobs and still have difficulty making ends meet. I feel deeply for individuals & families who fall into this category and I condone goverment programs that will help these families survive. President Obama has a huge job in front of him, he was left with a real mess to clean up and it is not going to happen overnight. With God's help and for this country's sake, I hope his efforts will pay off. He has my support.
Man, don't you have anything better to do???
Why is it so easy for the average person to come to a common sense solution to issues facing US and so hard for elected officials.
If you are going to quote someone, you should make sure you get the person and the quote correct. Ohterwise, it makes you look stupid and negates whatever it was you were trying to say.
Everything isn't about President Obama. Get with it. There is an entire other wing of the government and they control the purse strings...this site helps one see how ridiculous and inept the overwhelming majority of them are. They are wasting your hard earned money. Pres Obama is just very happy to sign on the dotted line.
After decades of a congress & senate with the same players that have mismanaged and failed as watchdogs, why would we accept these same players advice on our future .
As far as i am concerned if you are not accountable for your decisions then we dont need these players representation.
Clean up the past before trying something new & remove the players that caused the problems.
Let your elected congress & senate members hear from you and that there
actions will be remembered a the polls.
I see no difference between our government and vegas except that vegas takes your money faster but also pays immediately & is voluntary.
Good shearing. Nice post.... thanks, keep it up.