Tom Coburn

Why don't we just do a timeout for one year and get caught up and make sure the grants are going where they need to go and that we are managing them right?

The first step in measuring the results of a government program is creating an inventory of all Federal programs.

Do you not think that the American people deserve to be able to go online and see what all the programs are and where their money gets spent?

The government cannot manage what it cannot measure.

If we have that kind of leadership, this will happen, and we will not have to have a Taxpayers Right-to-Know Act.

I would just recommend it. We are proud of the success of the Career Tech Program in Oklahoma. It is highly successful.

The Taxpayer's Right-To-Know Act will create a concrete way to address the $200 billion that the Government Accountability Office (GAO) has identified in duplication.

But we are going to get it. We are going to get the Taxpayers Right-to-Know Act on a level and a vote that is far beyond anything you have seen because, first of all, it makes common sense and, second, it is the right thing to do and…

Gene, your thoughts on that?

Why in the world do you have 209 different programs?

It just drives me nuts that we continue to spend money on programs that do not achieve anything without truly reforming.

What is the plan? What is the progress--none of which, by the way, have a metric on whether they are successful.

I think some of my back numbers were $88 billion in IT purchases, and about $44 billion of it got us nothing a couple of years ago.

We do not have a metric on a one of them. We are spending billions. We know we want more science and technology, engineering and math.

Job Corps is an absolute failure in Oklahoma when you look at the metrics of who got a life skill.

The GAO, some time ago, listed out 47 job training programs for the nondisabled, of which all but 3 duplicated at least another one.

One of the things the President mentioned in his State of the Union was job training.

If we have CIOs, they ought to have the power as well as be held accountable for the implementation of this.

GAO says we could save $12 billion a year, potentially.

Has there been any thought given to giving OMB direction to what that role should be so you have a person that is accountable?

Will you commit to keep the dashboard both current and accurate because it is neither right now?

I recognize the effort, the professionalism, and the expertise that all of you bring to the table.

You cannot manage what you cannot measure.

So you have double jeopardy. Where would you like to spend time?

The fact is if your policy today is that U.S. accounts will be compliant with U.S. tax law, it does not matter what the percentage of assets under management that are.