Senator Lamar Alexander today announced that he is cosponsoring legislation by Senator Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) that would require all federal agencies to issue “report cards” detailing costs and other information to help identify government waste.
“It’s tax season, and taxpayers in Tennessee and around the country have a right to know where their money is going,” Senator Alexander said. “One of the best ways to expose government waste, hold public officials accountable and reduce unnecessary spending is to give Americans more information – a little transparency goes a long way.”
The Taxpayers Right to Know Act would require every federal agency to produce an annual report card for each of its programs, including all costs to taxpayers, the number of beneficiaries and the amount of staff, including contractors, associated with each program.
It would also require federal agencies to provide information on improper payments, fraud, unspent money and duplication with other federal programs. Federal agencies would have to post the information online and update it each year.
In addition to Senators Coburn and Alexander, the legislation is cosponsored by a bipartisan group of 19 senators. A version of the legislation by Rep. James Lankford (R-Okla.) passed the U.S. House of Representatives in February.