Chairman Issa bill would create single website for government spending data

House Oversight Committee Chairman Darrell Issa (R-CA) unveiled a bill that would establish a single electronic platform to track federal spending, just hours before Vice President Biden was set to announce a similar effort.

The Digital Accountability and Transparency Act (DATA) would establish an independent body to track all federal spending including grants, contracts, loans and agencies' internal expenses, with all of that information available online for the public. “Americans have the right to know what their government is doing with their money, including both internal and external expenditures,” Chairman Issa said. “Too many different systems, inaccurate data, and a lack of common standards impede transparency. The Digital Accountability and Transparency Act will revolutionize the conduct of open government.”