McCaskill-backed Bill Shines Light on Cost, Details of Federal Programs

Press Release

U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill joined Republican Senator Jim Lankford and a bipartisan group of Senators to introduce the Taxpayers Right To Know Act, to increase transparency and accountability in government by making public the costs and details of every federal program, so taxpayers can better know how their tax dollars are being spent.

"A transparent government is an effective government," said McCaskill, the top Democrat on the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations and a former Missouri State Auditor. "By forcing federal agencies to make public information on spending and performance, this bipartisan bill empowers taxpayers with the tools needed to keep government honest and accountable."

"The Taxpayers Right To Know Act would expose government waste and improve federal accountability," said Lankford, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Regulatory Affairs and Federal Management. "For too long, information about federal programs have hidden in $3.5 trillion budget line-items that most people never see. The nonpartisan Government Accountability Office annually identifies tens of billions of dollars in duplication, but still lacks the tools to best eliminate the overlap. The American taxpayer deserves to know where their hard-earned tax dollars are being spent -- this bill ensures that."

The legislation is co-sponsored by Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota, Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire, Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, Mike Enzi of Wyoming, and John McCain of Arizona.

The legislation would direct the Office of Management and Budget to create a central database for financial data and performance metrics for every federal program, and require every federal agency to provide taxpayers an annual report card for all of its programs.

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