OMB news release: “This morning, the President issued a memorandum directing that a Do Not Pay List be established, a single source through which all agencies can check the status of a potential contractor or individual. Too often, an agency does not check all the different databases the government has or finds it difficult to do so. This denies agencies essential information they need to determine, for example, if an individual is alive or dead or if a contractor had been debarred. In fact, over the past three years, federal auditors have reported that the government paid out benefits totaling more than $180 million to approximately 20,000 Americans who were dead; and more $230 million in benefits to approximately 14,000 fugitive felons or those in jail and who are not eligible for benefits. The Do Not Pay List will allow Federal agencies to access this information in a more timely and cost effective manner and will help reduce improper payments made by the Government and help save taxpayer dollars…The second action we are taking builds on the success we’ve had under the Vice President’s leadership in making sure that Recovery Act dollars are well spent and not wasted through fraud, error or abuse.”