Obama touts federal technology initiatives

President Obama went out of his way in his State of the Union address Tuesday to sing the praises of innovative federal technology efforts, and to encourage agencies to transform government through the use of technology.

In a speech marked by Obama's commitment to a dramatic reorganization of government, the president indicated that technology would be at the heart of the effort.

"We have made great strides over the last two years in using technology and getting rid of waste," Obama said. "Veterans can now download their electronic medical records with a click of the mouse."

Obama also praised technological innovations at other federal facilities. "At Oak Ridge National Laboratory, they're using supercomputers to get a lot more power out of our nuclear facilities," he said.

The president pledged to institute further advances. "Because you deserve to know exactly how and where your tax dollars are being spent, you will be able to go to a website and get that information for the very first time in history," he said. And Obama challenged lawmakers to use technology to further their own transparency efforts.

"Because you deserve to know when your elected officials are meeting with lobbyists, I ask Congress to do what the White House has already done: put that information online," he said.