Today, Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers unveiled a new and cutting edge tool giving taxpayers greater access to how the federal government spends our tax dollars.  Sunshine.gop.gov allows visitors to track stimulus dollars, banks that received Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) funds, and earmark and authorization requests on one site.

“Six months ago, lawmakers rushed through a $787 billion stimulus package and before that a $700 billion TARP program.  With all this record spending, taxpayers should have the right to see how their tax dollars are being spent,” McMorris Rodgers stated.  “Not only will this website give taxpayers more insight but it will ultimately hold the federal government accountable for how it spends our money.”

“Sunshine.gop.gov is a vital addition to the efforts to make government spending more transparent,” said Tom Schatz, President of Citizens Against Government Waste.  “It fills a gap that was left by the Administration, which has provided some transparency but has not made the information easily searchable.  The website should be used by every taxpayer and the media to help improve the accountability of how Americans’ hard-earned money is being spent.”

As Vice Chair of the House Republican Conference, McMorris Rodgers is leading the way in utilizing new media to connect constituents with their elected officials. Sunshine.gop.gov is an interactive site allowing visitors to view spending, comment on these expenditures and view legislation that will bring more transparency and accountability to the federal government.

“Working with the private sector we were able to develop the website for under $20,000.  This was a fraction $18 million contract awarded by the Administration for the redesign of their stimulus page Recovery.gov,” McMorris Rodgers said.

Contact:
Destry Henderson
202-225-2006
202-279-0418