Government Shredding Services - Wow.

That is, in chart form, the federal government's contracting costs for paper shredding services.

In 2000, the cost was $452,807. In 2006 it reached 2.9 million. And now, with 2007's records kept only through the second quarter and part of the third, the cost already reached $2,274,143. From 2000 to 2007, that's a 600 percent increase during the Bush administration.


I guess they have a lot to hide? So much so that they have required the services of 184 different contractors.


This frightening information comes from a sweet new Web site dedicated to documenting federal expenditures. It's USAspending.gov, and it's a database which "allows users to search by contracts and grants, contractor names, congressional districts and lawmakers. The data can be easily downloaded and used. A 'wiki' function gives users a chance to suggest changes and add information. Charts and rankings show to whom and where the bulk of federal dollars go." (Washington Post article)


The Web site is the ultimate result of a bill co-sponsored last year by senators Barack Obama and Republican Tom Coburn (Okla.), requiring the government to set up just such a searchable database by January 1, 2008. (Holy crap, perhaps the most amazing part of the story is that the government actually did something in the time they said they would. Before even! This might just call for rejoicing in the streets!)

News of the bill generated some contraversy when there was a secret hold placed on it, essentially crippling any discussion or vote on the matter. It was later revealed that, surprise surprise, corrupt Alaskan Senator The-Internet-is-not-a-dumptruck Ted Stevens was the "secret Senator."

Luckily, we now have this awesome tool to monitor goverment spending, and tax-paying citizens are finally empowered with some transparency into their leaders' spending and contracting habits.

From the same Washington Post article:

"The site goes further than the law demands, posting information every two weeks rather than every month and providing information on whether the contracts were subject to competitive bidding."

This last part will probably lead to some interesting information in regard to military and security contracts, and whether or not no-bid contracts were awarded to old friends in high places.

The site was created by a non-profit group working with the Office for Management and Budget for the cost of $600,000.

Lastly, I believe this should be played up by Obama's campaign, as it would be quite a highlight on his legislative experience. And, it definitely gave me another reason to like him.