Bush signs bill for online government info

CNN-AP ^ | 17 December 2002

[Asmodeus]

WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Bush on Tuesday signed legislation aimed at improving online access to government information and services.

The act "will help make the government more accessible to taxpayers and do so at better cost and savings to the taxpayers," said White House press secretary Ari Fleischer.

[Carry_Okie]

So this means that the Forest Service will stop hiding their data?

I'd bet not.

[toenail]

I would just once like to get an itemized receipt for my taxes. What'd I pay for? Break it down. We're being sold a bill of goods, and they don't even give us the bill of goods.

[Moonman62]

Sponsored by Rep. Jim Turner, D-Texas, and Sen. Joe Lieberman, D-Connecticut, the legislation establishes a new Office of E-government within the White House's Office of Management and Budget to oversee government-wide efforts. It authorizes funding that increases from $45 million in the 2003 budget year, which began October 1, to $150 million in 2006.

Shouldn't this be saving us money?

[Atlas Sneezed]

"Starting with the 2003 tax year, some Americans will be able to not only file, but prepare for free, their tax forms online."

Time to start selling Intuit stock!

[cake_crumb]

Cool, and good idea. Many state governments already have this type of thing, where you can get traffic law books, renew your driver's license and things like that.

[cake_crumb]

"Shouldn't this be saving us money?"

Good catch...if my brain weren't getting fried, MAYBE I would have noticed it.

[cake_crumb]

Last time they said that SOME Americans would be able to file online, it meant that only CPA's could file FOR you online...for a fee, payable to the CPA.

[Kerberos]

"Shouldn't this be saving us money?"

Actually this is a spending idea that makes sense and may have some utility to it. But I am not getting my hopes up to much as after all it is the government that will be implementing it.

[katze]

Two Dems sponsoring. Won't that mean that everyone is entitled to a computer to access data?

[Moonman62]

Actually this is a spending idea that makes sense and may have some utility to it.

I agree that it's a good idea, but the costs should come either from other budgets or from cost savings.

[Kerberos]

"but the costs should come either from other budgets or from cost savings."

I'm not sure I'm following you. I re-read the article and all it says is that this will come under the OMB. Doesn't that come out of the general tax fund? What other budget do you think it should come from?

[tracer]

Yes, and with a Spanish-language option for all who request it...

[meadsjn]

Here's the version from dc.internet.com:

http://dc.internet.com/news/article.php/1558201

December 17, 2002
Bush Signs e-Government Act
By Colin C. Haley

President George W. Bush this morning signed the Electronic Government Act of 2002, a bill that earmarks $345 million over the next four years for federal technology projects, according to the White House Press Office.

The measure, which was passed by Congress last month, establishes an e-Government Fund that starts at $45 million in 2003 and ramps up to $150 million in 2006.

A new agency, the Office of Electronic Government, will oversee the account, placing a priority on inter-agency projects with government-wide applications. It will be lead by a presidential appointee and operate under the auspices of the Office of Management and Budget.

The legislation was first introduced by Sen. Joseph Lieberman (D.Conn.) and Sen. Conrad Burns (R-Mont.). It passed the Senate by unanimous consent, but changes made in the House version, including reducing the overall funding levels, produced a compromise version.
br> In announcing the proposal, Lieberman laid out the problem with Washington's current approach: "At this early stage, e-government is a loose knit mix of ideas, projects, and affiliations -- often uncoordinated, sometimes overlapping, and too frequently redundant in their costs," he said.

Other provisions of the bill include:

The new legislation also:

• Authorizes funding for improvement of the federal Internet portal, Firstgov.gov, so that on-line government information and services are organized "according to citizen needs, not agency jurisdiction."
• Requires regulatory agencies to conduct administrative rule-makings on the Internet, and federal courts to post court information and judicial opinions on their Web sites
• Allows agencies, scientists, policy makers and the public to have access over the Internet to non-sensitive information about where federal funds for scientific research are spent
• Improves recruitment and training for federal IT professionals
• Establishes "significant new privacy protections" for personally information kept by the government.

[Moonman62]

What other budget do you think it should come from?

It should come out of the IT budgets of all agencies concerned. In following years it could come from budgets used for facilities that the technology would replace. I can accept some nominal startup costs, but tripling the budget in four years means this thing is loaded with pork.

[Kerberos]

"but tripling the budget in four years means this thing is loaded with pork."

Unfortunately you are probably correct on that point.

[zingzang]

"Starting with the 2003 tax year, some Americans will be able to not only file, but prepare for free, their tax forms online."

Time to start selling Intuit stock!

Yeah, but can you imagine how "great" this will work? You'll pay your taxes and end up buying a damn car for a disabled vet in Alaska or something...and the IRS will still come after you despite their technical inefficiencies.

[PianoMan]

Does this mean Larry Klayman will stop filing lawsuits?

[Feiny]

Al Gore invented this program.

[katze]

We're already paying for hookup costs via the taxes on telephones. Noticed my most recent telephone bill, base cost of $29.95, with the bottom line $40.72, which looks like 25% for tax.

Actually, I like the idea of some of the state's services, such as renewing license "stickers" over the Internet, which I did yesterday. There is a small surcharge, which is less than the cost of gas, but more than a stamp. The issue is, we're already paying communication charges, which should pay for availability of the services.

With all the niceties here and there, we're bound to have a tax increase, although Rush did mention that someone has a novel idea of everyone paying tax (can't remember source of his comment). ;-)