Public Records Free Directory Blog

As the economy continues to be at the forefront of many Americans’ concerns, President Obama and Congress continue to wrestle with various solutions. The government’s initial efforts at correcting the country’s financial problems came under President Bush’s administration in the form of the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) which promised approximately $350 billion to banks and other financial insititutions beginning in October 2007. Many Americans, including Congress and President Obama, are gravely concerned about the lack of oversight in this initial plan – there are billions of dollars unaccounted for and it appears that, while the money has been given to the financial institutions, little has trickled down to the average consumers.

President Obama, in keeping with his promises of transparency in government, announced today a new website designed to assist in the oversight of any new bailout money released to banks and other financial institutions. This site currently has limited information and a disclaimer indicating that “This site is coming soon”. I believe the best way for true transparency to occur is to have information available to all, not just select oversight committees. If this website proves to contain the information I understand it will, an accounting and direct outline of the amounts of money being distributed will be provided and will be available to all interested persons via the internet.

We here at the Public Records Directory will continue to watch with interest this and other open records policies and websites and, as always, will strive to bring the most accurate information and websites to our directory.