Tell the White House CIO: the solution to transparency is “shovel ready” XBRL
Uncategorized Add commentsIt is actually possible to track every single dollar of our massive government spending and to share that information between Federal agencies, in real time – and with the public. This is the level of transparency that everyone is crying for, but few people within the government are aware yet that the solution is available, and “shovel ready.”
XBRL is the web-based data standard for financial reporting that could unite all government agencies connected to the massive government spending programs, but the U.S. government is behind the learning curve. At the White House, the person who needs to get “the XBRL bug” is Vivek Kundra the Federal Chief Information Officer (CIO). So we are very excited about the request he made for public opinion on financial data transparency, which he posted on his blog just days ago, and which invites a full throated response from the XBRL community.
XBRL is already in use by the SEC and FDIC, and it’s an ideal, bi-partisan issue for anyone championing the public interest in transparent government. (We hope Christopher Dodd, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs is reading this) And not everyone in Congress is behind the learning curve. After House Representative Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) suggested using a “standard electronic database” to track the use of Troubled Asset Relief Program funds, Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) introduced a bill that would require agencies to use XBRL to collect financial information and to share it with the public.
The Government Information Transparency Act H.R. 2392 has been referred to the oversight committee. You can track the progress of this and related bills at Govtrack.us.
There is talk in Washington of combining several regulatory agencies (the SEC, the Federal Reserve, CFTC) into one “super regulator,” but the use of XBRL a common language would allow existing agencies to start sharing information very quickly, regardless of future, politically-charged plans for restructuring that could take years to implement.
The need for governmental transparency has created an opportunity for the XBRL US community to realize its original, idealistic vision of a free, open data standard for improved business information and transparency. We hope everyone will respond to CIO Kindra’s request for feedback, and will scroll their contacts and social networks for personal connections to everyone in government charged with making Federal dollars more transparent!
June 11th, 2009 at 1:22 pm
this country needs a “super regulator” like it needs more suicide bombers
June 11th, 2009 at 1:42 pm
We need to update our transportatoion system with connectors like the St Johns Heritage Parkway.
Infrastructure is important in job creation, economic development, the quality of life, and hurricane evacuation. We should consider the importance of Stimulus Transportation Jobs to our economy. Florida’s total share thus far is 3.7%. Our county expected 260 million we received 9.1 million total to split 16 ways. Ouch! We spent over 2 million to get shovel ready. We understand stimulus money went to Acorn, social programs and some government expansion.
Properly applied transportation funds can create many important economic development opportunities. The impacts to communities can be game changing. Many of the new Florida jobs are tied to the tech and biotech corridors at or near regional roadways. “Location, location, location” is a transportation based saying or adage. The Pineda Parkway, and the St Johns Heritage Parkway are examples of critical Brevard connectors.
Please consider the impact on roadways and state and Federal Matching funds. I know the budget is tight, however, the risk to our transportation vision and job creation is great. We need transportation improvements to help us with connectivity and to solve our critical dead end problem west of I-95.
As an example, the St johns Heritage Parkway is a regional bypass and scientific innovation connector. Additionally, it is a hurricane, fire, and natural disaster evacuation linkage. The parkway will provide job creation potentials through new linkages, smart growth, and good planning. New job clusters and activity centers will promote innovation and business development synergy. Connecting the local and regional work force to the workplace is a part of the business plan.
We need to continue the vision for our transportation destiny. Please help preserve the Transportation Trust Fund.
June 11th, 2009 at 6:42 pm
It is actually possible, but one, software and one program will not do it. The same applies to any other thing in life, multiple functions and parameters equate to total functionality. This scenario implies that to create a “winning” race car all you need is and engine, and to be able to start it. That scenario and approach will not work in any performance and or functioning vehicle of any type or application. Specific components, knowledgeable applications, total vision of, total thought process of, actual goals, proof of concept and above all maintenance and expansion of people, places and things have to work congruently together. “Clusters” are good for bee hives wherein you need a lot of workers doing something, ants the same, but thoughtful complicated processes with a purpose require a slightly different approach. Therein also lays the “Vision”, if it were a puzzle at one piece at a time the consumption would be great, but the actual production near zero. Ironically Ben Franklin, Edison and others of the past first had the vision and then sought out, and developed to solutions without that approach you have components as we have now but the game and goal is lost.
Ironically all things are somewhat the same they just have different monikers to identify the components. They also all have similar purpose, survival for one no food, no air, no light, you do not have life so therefore each endeavor has to have at least a small component of each. The better their applications individually and collectively the stronger and greater the outcome, never before has and entire country so desperately needed such and approach. The current approach appears to be like the original war aircraft. Throw a bomb out the window it will hit something, originally it only blew off the tail, therefore try, try again; some believe we have gone beyond that. Actual functional solutions do exist, but that does require communications a long lost art, since currently only the select few could have and idea, plan and working solution. Franklin, Edison and the rest would all move if alive today, there is no future in such a closed atmosphere. Considering the current atmosphere, they would have their legs and arms cut off, with a tourniquet around their neck and the bills themselves would kill them by the time everyone got their financial cut.
Serious answers do exist, call me they are not frivolous but proven.