Comments for Stimulus Spend Data Coming via Feeds

Stimulus Spend Data Coming via Feeds

2009-02-22T03:14:44Z

In a memo from the Office of Management and Budget last week, Director Peter Orszag outlined the implementation guidelines [PDF] for the new stimulus bill, requiring all government agencies to provide a feed to disclose funds allocated, and optimize Web pages in an effort to help the public find relevant information through search engines.

"For each of the near term reporting requirements (major communications, formula block grant allocations, weekly reports) agencies are required to provide a feed (preferred: Atom 1.0, acceptable: RSS) of the information so that content can be delivered via subscription."

]]> Atom has always had a lot of support, particularly from Google, and now it appears to have the support of the new government as well. We won't go into the differences between Atom and RSS here, there are many schools of thought, suffice to say, the Obama administration, it appears has truly embraced Web 2.0.

In addition to asking for feeds to disclose where funds are allocated; the stimulus bill guidelines for Web sites read much like Google's own Webmaster guidelines, and as Google points out: "Following these guidelines will help Google find, index, and rank your site." Exactly what the new government needs if it wants the people of the world to have quick access to its information.

While the document states that agencies are not expected to develop new sites, each agency must dedicate a page of its primary site to stimulus activities, and the pages must be up by February 25, 2009.

Here at ReadWriteWeb, we have always maintained that the new government is leading the way with openness and transparency, and once again we must give kudos to the new administration in bringing the true meaning of Web 2.0 to the government.

Comment from söve on 2009-03-17

2009-03-17T11:59:19Z

Requiring each state to dedicate a full page on it's stimulus allocations is an even better idea.

Comment from Greg on 2009-02-24

2009-02-24T21:35:54Z

Too bad this tracking was not in place to monitor how the Bush $700 billion Wall St. bailout was spent.

Comment from mlkgrant on 2009-02-22

2009-02-22T16:14:51Z

It easy to second guess a good idea. The idea of complete transparence is a fantasy, but President Abana's idea of openness at all levels of government, starting with this stimulus package is a great start. Requiring each state to dedicate a full page on it's stimulus allocations is an even better idea. It forces local governments to be clear as to how their spending our tax dollars. No more giving a contract to Uncle whoever's brother-in-law!
With technology today the Governor of Mass is having the RMV develope a chip that goes into a drivers registration sticker to track the drivers use of state and local roads to determine a tax for the use of those roads. The more you drive the higher the tax! Now if that isn't BIG BROTHER micro-managing I don't know what is. Wouldn't that take away some of our freedoms? Like the "right to privacy!"
Where Governor Deval Patrick is bent of limiting our freedoms by the miss-use of technology, Abana is trying to encourge trust by accountability with the use of technology. This is only a first step, "we the people" are encourged to engage our government with ideas as to how we should proceed from here. President Abana has taken the first step, it's our turn to take the next!

Comment from Mark H. Delfs on 2009-02-22

2009-02-22T15:15:31Z

Great idea--where are the feeds at this point--are they live yet?

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Comment from Nate on 2009-02-22

2009-02-22T15:02:29Z

I completely agree with Morgan. Sure, it's nice to see atom feeds from the government (feeds covering House activities have been available for years, BTW), but not at the neglect of their duties as administrators of our country. The way this stimulus bill was handled was undeniably amateurish and unfair to the american population. No one who voted on it in the House even had time to read it. President Obama didn't even read it. It's unbelievable that this is considered acceptable behavior, especially under the claims of the new administration.

You could also argue that this small gesture alone isn't truly a sign that they are now "web 2.0".

Comment from Morgan on 2009-02-22

2009-02-22T08:19:27Z

Will it be great? It's already law, barn door once the horses are out and all that. It _might_ have been great to see beforehand. It _might_ have been great if anyone, including the Presdent, read it first.

"Here at ReadWriteWeb, we have always maintained that the new government is leading the way with openness and transparency."

I don't know if you've noticed, but so far the reality has not measured up to the very specific promises of openness. There was no public review period. There was no posting for people to give feedback. They are definitely leading the way in rhetoric and claims of openness and transparency. And I am guessing you will continue to maintain your position whether the reality matches up or not.

Do I want a feed of "here's what we already enacted"? Not that much, actually. Before we get all excited about web 2.0 the and data format of a bill's spending, I would think we might press for something slightly simpler, maybe Reading 101.

Comment from Drew Lucas on 2009-02-21

2009-02-22T04:20:09Z

Wow that could be really cool to see where all of the money is going real time...

Comment from www.csscody.com on 2009-02-21

2009-02-22T04:12:08Z

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