Hit 'search' for 'Google government'

Remember last summer, in the height of the debate over lobbying scandals and pork spending, when Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., proposed a giant, searchable online database giving citizens access to data on virtually all federal spending? The proposal, hailed by both the left and the right, led to the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006, co-sponsored by Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill. It passed, despite a “secret hold” put on the bill by Senate porkmeisters Ted Stevens of Alaska and Robert Byrd of West Virginia, who were “outed” by conservative bloggers.

Letting Americans see who’s getting federal contracts and for how much would encourage openness, and accountability and, ultimately, confidence in government. The Office of Management is designing the Web site, which is supposed to be online and active by January 2008. But it's received little public attention – until now.

The libertarian Reason Foundation is leading a coalition of 36 organizations that’s trying to make the database an issue in the 2008 presidential campaign. They’re trying to get candidates to sign a pledge that if elected, they’ll lead “the most transparent administration in American history” and make the online database an integral part of government culture. Americans could use a simple online search tool to find all sorts of information that until now has remained out of reach. Reason calls it “Google government.” So far, three candidates have signed the pledge, Reason announced Friday – Obama, Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kansas, and Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas. The others are mulling their options – or maybe checking with their big campaign contributors.

Candidates are often, and understandably, loath to sign pledges that might lock them into specific positions on issues. Unfulfilled or unfulfillable pledges have a way of coming back to haunt politicians. But this one is, to quote Paul, a “no-brainer.” The bill passed overwhelmingly, and the idea has support across the political spectrum. Conservative groups like it because they think the database will prove that government spends and wastes too much. Liberal groups want to expose hidden interests and show the benefits of an activist government. Already, there are signs that the concept is forcing government to become more responsive and interactive.

Open government is not just a good idea – it’s our right as citizens. Candidates for office on all levels ought to understand that.