The Center for Effective Government, formerly OMB Watch, was a think tank and advocacy group based in Washington, D.C. It was focused on government transparency. Founded in 1983, the organization ceased operations in 2016, folding its work into the Project On Government Oversight.
History OMB Watch was formed by Gary D. Bass in 1983 in an effort to increase transparency surrounding the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
OMB Watch changed its name to the Center for Effective Government in January 2013. In March 2016, the organization closed its doors, folding its work into the Project On Government Oversight. The reason was financial difficulties.
Activities The Center for Effective Government concentrated on four main areas: the role of government; information and access; budget, taxation and government performance; and regulatory policy.Center for Effective Government - About Us The organization's goal was to improve access to decision-makers and energize citizen participation. Charity Navigator rated Center for Effective Government with four stars out of four possible for financial performance, accountability and transparency.Charity Navigator Rating - Center for Effective Government
The Center's reports were used by media outlets, such as Politico, when it quoted CEG's second annual performance analysis of the 15 government agencies' processing the most Freedom of Information Act (United States) requestsJosh Gerstein Group gives State Department 'F' on FOIA processing 10 March 2015 and NGO's like Immigration ImpactWendy Feliz Challenging CBP’s Failure to Respond to FOIA Requests Immigration Impact, 16 March 2015 and in complaints or lawsuits, such as Brown et al. v. U.S. Customs and Border Protection, (132 F.Supp.3d 1170, 2015).
Comments by staff were included in newspapers such as the Fiscal Times.David Dayen How the Government Is Rolling Over for Big Banks Again. The Fiscal Times, 28 August 2015Chris Isidore Uncle Sam's outsourcing tab: $517 billion CNNMoney 10 June 2013
CEG gave testimony, submitted comments, statements and questions for the record, to Congress and other governmental bodies.Testimony 2004-2015, Center for Effective Government, retrieved 21 March 2016
References
External links Center for Effective Government's website (archived) Center for Effective Government's FedSpending.org Center for Effective Government's Right-to-Know Network