Obama lays out vision for good governance

President Obama says huge swaths of the federal government are more efficient, transparent and accountable than at any time in U.S. history.

Obama is touting "smarter government" programs at an event to highlight his vision for delivering better government services at lower taxpayer expense. He's citing FEMA's web and apps government data which is now available online.

Obama says progress hasn't always come quickly enough and he says he's directing his Cabinet to create an aggressive agenda for his second term to improve government management. He's tasking his budget director, Sylvia Mathews Burwell, to lead the effort.

The initiative gives Obama a way to try to show leadership on improving government without lawmaker approval at a time when Congress is holding up many of his legislative priorities.