White House launches Recovery.gov

(Credit: Recovery.gov)

The White House has launched Recovery.gov, a site that intends to bring transparency to the government spending authorized in the $787 billion economic package the president signed Tuesday.

"The size and scale of this plan demand unprecedented efforts to root out waste, inefficiency, and unnecessary spending," President Obama says in an introductory video on the site. "The important decisions about where taxpayer dollars will be invested will be yours to scrutinize."

The site includes charts that break down how the money in the legislation will be distributed. As federal agencies distribute funds, those allocations will be added to the site. A map of the country shows the number of jobs the legislation is expected to create in each state. The site also has a separate page explaining the president's call for transparency, as well as an "about" page that summarizes the bill and provides a timeline of its progress.

Visitors can sign up for e-mail updates and are encouraged to share through a comment form on the site how their lives have been affected by the economic downturn.

The site also gives a link to the full text of the bill.

[j_ten_man]

And built using Drupal!

[sanenazok]

Should be called spending.gov in my opinion. We'll see just how transparent the site will be. Right now it only allows you view the text of the bill...something you could do just as well without the site.

[kieranmullen]

If the goverment can't find out where the money went to ... what good is a website?

KieranMullen
http://360oregon.com

[keltyclan]

Lots of window dressing can be used to hide what's going on inside the store. I am holding a wait and see attitude, but somehow it seems more waiting than seeing.

[ericyen]

If government can't be responsible for spending my tax money then I should not be taxed.
I want to see and know where my money is going.
We need our official to be more responsible.
Grow a spine and take ownership.
Government need to be more transparent.
If money is spent . . . what is the end purpose of spending that money. Is this a good investment. I don't buy America Cars and I have NOT see "Buy American" since the early 70s.

All the people that are responsible and live within their means are getting stuck with the cost. That cost coming from the irresponsibility of others. I work damn hard for my money. To see it spent on taking care of the irresponsible people that over leveraged and made bad decision is just irritating.

[Larry Forman]

As an American I am concerend like many of you about the debt that has been amounted from this bill. But where were you when (someone told me 5 trillion during the bush administration) was being spent. That's more money than all those who see the comment can spend in our lifetimes!. Okay, so the point is WE are spending $1T maybe $1.5T to keep this country from falling into a "2nd world status" Let's not look at how we are going about it and bicker with cheap shots. Let's alll be constructive and most importantly look at the longer term goal .... a better America for all. Oh, btw from what I have read of the bill, I will not get a nickel from the gov't. (federal or state). But IT WILL give me piece of mind and spirit to know we can save our leaderhsip of the country's; give a hand to someone less fortunate in America. For those against this - I will not believe that somewhere in your book of worship, it does nto talk to the good of society. So this bill with all its potential faults is our opp. to help so many people and be called the turn to improvment for America

[johneorman]

As a registered Republican I find the presidents proposal on the stimulus to be necessary. The president is trying to solve issues that have been lingering from the previous 3 administrations and
congressional and senate unwilligness to work together. This country has divided itself down party
lines of republican or democrat. Until will become a country of AMERICANS again with a clear vision of what we demand of our lawmakers to be nothing will ever change. President Obama is the first president since Ronald Reagan that has a clear vision of what this country can be. Our lawmakers both democrat and republican had better work together to get this crisis under control or the voters
will have all of their heads on a silver platter and kick everyone of them out of office. President Obama must also be cautious to not let the popularity polls dictate his policies. The bottom line is there will
a backlash by voters against all politicians who do not work together to solve this current crisis.

[poppiespumpkin]

i understand that the presidents plan is to help people, but i have yet to hear how us retired and disabled people who live on less than 15000.00 yearly will be helped by any of this. to my shock and surprise i am considered 135% below poverty line when is our help going to come?

[glitterandroses]

I totally agree. My husband & I are retired & on fixed incomes. We have a mortgage to pay, as well as, almost 2000.00 a year for my prescriptions (If I get them filled). As of this month, I am not taking all the medicines I am supposed to take. We pay almost 4000.00 a year for insurance, which has a deductible of 300.00 for each hospital care & 20.00 each doctor's visit. I dropped Medicare Part B, because I cannot afford to have a hundred dollars taken out of my Social Security each month. With the high cost of groceries, etc., we cannot even afford to go out for dinner or get anything special at the grocery store. In President Obama's speech last night, I did not hear a thing about what he is going to do to help people like us. I don't know how much longer we can live above the poverty line.

[Bethdesros]

I am so inspired by this president and have complete faith that he will turn this country around. We all need to stop being so negative and give this a chance to work. For all the naysayers out there, what is your plan to stimulate the economy? You're quick to say what won't work but I have yet to see what will work in your opinion. Let's all work together and do our part to make this a country to be proud of again not only for each other but for generations to come.
Now, having said that, I would like to request that there be consequences set forth for those execs who spent (our) bailout money the way they did. It is shameful!! So, I have a suggestion. How about requiring them to live on a less desirable income for a year so they can see firsthand how the middle class live??? I would be happy to swap incomes with you!

[stimulizer]

Where I have a problem with the President and Congress is, If The home mortgage crisis is what got us into this mess, Why was it the last to be addressed? Also the President discuss's how we need to keep people in their homes or give them the opportunity to refinance. But if they don't have a Job the next day refinancing isn't going to do any good except use up taxpayer money? Some of you commenting have asked whats the solution if the President is going at it wrong? This is how I feel. As Americans we need to pay better attention to where products are produced. As investors we need to pay better attention to where products are produced. Now I know some of you are saying protectionism isn't the way. and it probably isn't but think about this: If I am a widget maker employing people to design and manufacture widgets and my market for widgets is peeking out. The only way to improve the bottom line and make wall street happy is through efficiencies. IE lately labor. So manufacturing goes to China, India, Vietnam etc. and now the bottom line looks better to wall street. The problem is with this philosophy is that if many companies do this as have over the last 20 years eventually very few people are employed and no one can buy widgets and the economy sinks. Not everyone is cut out to be an engineer or ceo. Our economy will only truly recover when we have a balance design and manufacture of products . That might meen that the T-shirt you buy you pay $2.00 more for but it is produced in america. or the toaster or computor. As it is now we have a society of engineers and service workers. and Government. As the Current and Past President said we need to re-train those workers for new jobs. What Jobs? If manufacturing continues to go overseas or across the Border, The largest segment of the population won't have the job and income to buy those widgets that the company produces overseas and Our economy will continue to sputter! thoughts from the Stimulizer!!!