Dennis Smith with the Heritage Foundation says that big decisions, such as health care, should be left to the smallest forms of government – i.e. individual members of the public. Smith argues that Americans are living in a whole new world in terms of government intervention and spending.
The Heritage Foundation’s Dennis Smith says that healthcare reform is just the tip of the iceberg for those concerned about government spending. Smith says that by 2029, the Federal government will be responsible for roughly 20% of all U.S. spending. (:27)
FreedomWorks President and CEO Matt Kibbe discusses “pocketbook conservatism” and the need for a March On Washington. Kibbe’s organization will be holding a rally on Capitol Hill on September 12th to give voters a chance to tell Congress to be more fiscally conservative. (0:37)
“We’re making a transition as far as using new media [and] the internet. It’s impacting the way we communicate as a society, but it also is impacting the way people get information,” says Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.). McMorris Rodgers discusses a new GOP website that will attempt to make government spending more transparent. (0:46)
Sunshine.gop.gov, a new GOP website that tracks government spending, was developed “in a very cost-effective manner” at under $20,000, says Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.). McMorris Rodgers compares the cost of the GOP’s site to the $18 million contract signed by the administration to update Recovery.gov. (0:15)
“We thought it was important that taxpayers actually be able to see exactly how every dollar was being spent,” says Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers who announced the launch of a new GOP site on government spending. “Sunshine.gop.gov will give taxpayers greater insight and ultimately hold the federal government accountable for how it spends our tax dollars.” (0:20)
By Mariko Lamb
Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.) unveiled a new GOP website Thursday that “shines the light on government spending.” Sunshine.gop.gov tracks stimulus project spending, earmarks, TARP programs, and transparency legislation.
“We thought it was important that taxpayers actually be able to see exactly how every dollar was being spent,” she said. “Sunshine.gop.gov will give taxpayers greater insight and ultimately hold the federal government accountable for how it spends our tax dollars.”
The site is more user-friendly and cost-effective than Recovery.gov, she said. Development of sunshine.gop.gov cost only $20,000 as opposed to the recent $18 million contract signed to update the administration’s stimulus site, Recovery.gov.
Rodgers urged both the public and the media to use the website as a tool to conduct research on government spending and pursue stories on wasteful government spending.
“We’re making a transition as far as using new media [and] the internet. It’s impacting the way we communicate as a society, but its also is impacting the way people get information,” she said. “This is a step in the right direction.”
