This week, OMB announced a new feature to what it terms its "earmarks database" -- data showing estimates of the number and cost of earmarks in the individual FY 2008 Appropriations bills as they move through the legislative process.

We road-tested this database here at OMB Watch and give it one thumbs-up.

The Thumb: Unbidden by Congress, OMB has taken it upon itself to produce and publish the first current-year accounting of earmarks ever -- a significant improvement in a hitherto almost wholly shrouded aspect of government spending. It is now possible to follow earmarks as bills move through the legislative process after: 1) House and Senate Committee action, 2) House and Senate floor action, and 3) Conference Committee action -- drilling down to the program level.

The Palm: The "database" has no advanced search functions -- you can't search and retrieve bills, sort for trends, or drill down jurisdictionally further than state-level. "Database" is a misnomer here -- it's more like a set of files with very limited sub-search ability. The earmarks identified are only "legislative" -- executive branch earmarks are not identified. And tax expenditure earmarks are omitted entirely.