The Coalition for an Accountable Recovery (CAR) gave mixed reactions to the first wave of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act) recipient data disclosed Oct. 15 at Recovery.gov, the official reporting website.

“The Recovery Act is proving to be the most transparent federal spending law ever enacted,” said Gary D. Bass, executive director of OMB Watch. “It is a watershed because the Obama administration has successfully created a new reporting system that requires recipients of Recovery Act funds to report in a timely manner how they are using federal resources. Unfortunately, the Recovery.gov website is an ineffective and inadequate tool for understanding the very small share of Recovery Act dollars reported today.”

Read the entire press statement on the Coalition for an Accountable Recovery's website.

UPDATE (Oct. 16, 2009): Groups Call for Recovery.gov Overhaul Before Major Data Release on October 30