During today’s interview of Geithner by the Senate panel for the upcoming financial fixes, Mark Warner (D-VA) made a notable comment about how there should be a strong expectation that Geithner and his department must provide transparency quickly to the public about how the TARP monies have been spent and how the new heavy-duty econo-package (the new USD $800,000,000,000+ plan that Obama is trying to pass) is going to be expended. Additionally, Mark is also looking for details about the financial returns coming back from the purchases that the federal governement made, as well as where those funds are being placed and how that relates to helping out Americans.
Geithner acknowledged that a lot of work has to be done to get that information ready and available, but he pledged to doing so. Furthermore, the data would be provided on a public Web site. Mark tossed in that the site should be relatively user friendly and understandable, in addition to being accurate and timely.
Out of all of the comments from the senators, this one appears to be the only one that directly addresses how to use evidence-based information as a way to regain the faith that the American public had placed on the new administration. It also is the only statement about how current technology should be used to facilitate the communications pathway between the insulated government and the (very) anxious people.
