New admendment requires Senate office expenditures be reported online

WASHINGTON, D.C.  

U.S. Senator Tom Coburn, M.D. (R-OK) offered an amendment requiring all Senate office budgets be made available on-line.  The amendment passed today by a voice vote.   

"A transparent government is an accountable government. The public will now have greater access to see how their Senators are spending taxpayer dollars," Dr. Coburn said.     "While this is a significant reform, it is only a first step toward bringing greater transparency to the daily business of Congress."  

Throughout the past several years, Dr. Coburn has worked to bring accountability and transparency to the federal government.  He has returned an average of 16.5% of his yearly office budget, which amounts to nearly $2 million in four years.

Dr. Coburn also worked with then-Sen. Barack Obama to secure passage of the Federal Financial Accountability and Transparency Act (P.L. 109-282) that resulted in the creation of USASpending.gov, a website that provides details on federal funding recipients.

For additional information regarding Dr. Coburn, contact Don Tatro, press secretary, at 202-224-5754 or visit http://www.coburn.senate.gov/.