Bill Overview
Title: The Watchdog Act
Description: This bill establishes in the Executive Office of the President the Taxpayer Watchdog Office. The office shall (1) oversee the implementation of federal transparency laws (i.e., laws requiring disclosure of how federal funds are spent), (2) accept and review complaints about a failure of a federal agency to comply with a transparency law, (3) evaluate the compliance of federal agencies with such laws, (4) provide information on transparency to the public on a searchable public website, and (5) make annual reports to the public listing each federal transparency law and on the evaluation of federal agency compliance with such laws.
Sponsors: Sen. Ernst, Joni [R-IA]
Target Audience
Population: People impacted by government transparency and federal fund accountability
Estimated Size: 332000000
- The establishment of the Taxpayer Watchdog Office is primarily aimed at promoting transparency in the use of federal funds, which impacts all taxpayers who contribute to federal revenue.
- Considering the scope of transparency involves all federal agencies, this act affects any individual or group interested in federal spending, which includes all citizens as taxpayers.
- The act promotes accountability in federal spending and transparency laws; thus, any citizen concerned with government accountability and efficiency will be impacted.
- The benefit of a more transparent government could indirectly affect all residents in terms of improved government services.
Reasoning
- The Watchdog Act is primarily intended to promote transparency and accountability in federal spending, which is expected to translate into improved confidence in how tax dollars are managed.
- Being a relatively modest budget relative to federal spending, the office will focus on highlighting and addressing areas of non-compliance and providing transparent access to spending information.
- Not all citizens will feel a direct impact on their day-to-day life, but the improved efficiency and potential cost-saving could indirectly improve public services financed by federal funds.
Simulated Interviews
Policy Analyst (Washington, D.C.)
Age: 34 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The Watchdog Act is a step in the right direction for improving government transparency and accountability.
- Having a centralized office can help ensure that transparency laws are consistently applied across federal agencies.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Software Developer (Austin, Texas)
Age: 26 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I hope this will lead to more efficient government spending.
- I believe it's important for citizens to know how their taxes are spent.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Public School Teacher (Cleveland, Ohio)
Age: 42 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Transparency in federal spending can indirectly benefit public education by ensuring funds are appropriately allocated.
- The policy has the potential to educate the public, including my students, about government accountability.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Small Business Owner (Los Angeles, California)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I don’t see how this will directly help my business.
- I appreciate the need for transparency, but it's hard to see immediate benefits to small business owners.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Graduate Student (Denver, Colorado)
Age: 29 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This Act could provide great case studies for my research.
- Knowing where funds go can deeply enhance democratic engagement.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Federal Employee (San Francisco, California)
Age: 37 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I am worried about how this will affect our workload and public perception of federal workers.
- The Act emphasizes compliance, which adds pressure, but could also lead to better recognition of our work.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Retired Engineer (Chicago, Illinois)
Age: 64 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm hopeful this will enhance our trust in government.
- As a retiree on a fixed income, I believe every dollar should be wisely spent.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 3 |
Healthcare Administrator (Atlanta, Georgia)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This could lead to better oversight and management of grants.
- Transparency could benefit non-profits by ensuring equitable spending.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Freelance Journalist (Seattle, Washington)
Age: 31 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Access to more data on federal spending could greatly enhance my investigative reporting.
- This policy aligns well with the public's right to know.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Farmer (Rural Kentucky)
Age: 53 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- While my day-to-day operations won't change, knowing how funding is allocated could highlight disparities.
- This policy is abstract for me, but important for fairness.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 3 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $150000000 (Low: $100000000, High: $200000000)
Year 2: $130000000 (Low: $90000000, High: $170000000)
Year 3: $135000000 (Low: $95000000, High: $175000000)
Year 5: $140000000 (Low: $100000000, High: $180000000)
Year 10: $150000000 (Low: $110000000, High: $190000000)
Year 100: $150000000 (Low: $110000000, High: $190000000)
Key Considerations
- The act requires adequate technological infrastructure to manage and disseminate transparency data effectively.
- Ensuring the new office has sufficient authority and independence to perform its oversight functions is crucial.
- Coordination with existing auditing and compliance bodies to avoid duplication of functions and costs.
- The potential for nominal budget savings through reduced waste and mismanagement, though these are challenging to quantify and timing is uncertain.