Economic stimulus money is beginning to flow. As of yesterday, federal agencies are required to submit weekly reports of their activities under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).
President Obama and Vice President Biden have announced the release of $28 billion in stimulus funds to the states for transportation projects.
Biden underscored that infrastructure spending will be “by the numbers”:
Mr. President, you also made it clear that we have an obligation to the taxpayers of this nation to make sure their money is being used wisely, to make it accountable and transparent. Folks, we're going to ask of you a sense of diligence and transparency and responsibility as has not been asked before, because we've never made this kind of investment before. This is a big deal. Never before in the history of this country have the people been more able to see with such complete transparency how we're going to put their money to work, not just in this agency but particularly here.
Our web site, recovery.gov, is an unprecedented resource for the people to see how their money is being spent. And more than ever, more than ever, people can be our eyes and our ears. They can let us know what's happening, and maybe, just as importantly, what isn't happening in their communities.
ARRA includes more than $350 million for federal oversight. Spending decisions will be made at the state and local levels so millions of eyes and ears are needed to ensure transparency is more than a “trendy buzzword” or marketing strategy.
Last weekend, hundreds of concerned citizens gathered for a two-day Transparency Camp at the Institute for Politics Democracy & the Internet at George Washington University.
During the opening session, Craig Newmark, Founder and Customer Service Rep for Craigslist, said:
We’ve entered into a big part of human history where the consent of the governed takes on new meaning…finding out what’s going on in our government.
And what we’re finding is that some folks didn’t get the memo. Before the first shovel hits the ground, there are warning signs ahead.
In Texas, they’re messing with stimulus funding and reportedly wasting it on private toll roads.
In New York, Desmond Ryan, executive director of the Association for a Better Long Island, told Newsday:
It's starting to look like a Christmas tree.
Another Long Island lobbyist, Arthur “Jerry” Kremer, says he plans to pay a visit to the New York State Economic Recovery and Reinvestment Cabinet:
[Recovery Czar Timothy Gilchrist] will be seeing my face very soon.
I will be watching to see whether New York adheres to the common principles for transparency and accountability.
And if Kremer gets more than face time, I will file a citizen’s complaint with the Recovery Act Transparency and Accountability Board.
