The ability to see how government uses the public purse is fundamental to democracy. Budget transparency checks corruption, bolsters public confidence in government, and promotes fiscal responsibility.

Nuclear power is among the most costly approaches to solving America’s energy problems. Per dollar of investment, clean energy solutions – such as energy efficiency and renewable resources – deliver far more energy than nuclear power. This fact has important implications for America’s energy policy. By directing resources toward the most cost-effective solutions, we can make greater progress toward a secure, reliable and safe supply of electricity to power America’s economy.

Even before our nation was a nation, political leaders turned to private contractors to supply goods and services. However, the rapid growth in federal contracting in recent years brings greater scrutiny of both the process and the players. Investigations into the actions of contractors have uncovered a series of widely publicized scandals from $45 cases of soda for soldiers in Iraq to $24 billion for Coast Guard boats that do not float. In August 2007, the Washington Post reported that no-bid government contract awards tripled since 2000 and rose by $60 billion in the last year alone.