Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R.-Tenn.) took a risk today responding to a post by Andrew Stuttaford on National Review Online about Frist's views on theFederal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (S. 2590).

Earlier this week Stuttaford asked, "Are you paying attention, Senator Frist?" The question came after bloggers had coalesced around the question of which senator had put a secret hold on S. 2590. The bill, sponsored by Senators Tom Coburn (R.-Okla.) and Barack Obama (D.-Ill.), would create a website listing federal funding. (My colleague, Ivy Sellers, explains it in detail today in a story about Coburn.)

Frist's answer to Stuttaford's question:

As soon as the Senate returns in September, I will continue to fight to pass S. 2590 and other fiscal responsibility priorities opened the floodgates for bloggers to criticize him.

But just as Rep. Jack Kingston (R.-Ga.) saw conservative bloggers turn on him when he defended government earmarks in June, Frist, too, invited criticism from the right. Mark Tapscott led the way this morning, telling Frist:

First, Frist surely must know the identity of the senator or senators behind the anonymous hold. Why not call the holder or holders and tell them to withdraw it or the anonymity will end just as soon as the Majority Leader can get a post up on his blog exposing the senator or senators involved?

Second, why wait till September when Congress returns from its August recess? Here's a clear-cut opportunity to demonstrate leadership and make a concrete difference in advancing genuine, much-needed reform in Washington. What are you waiting for, Mr. Senate Majority Leader?

I tend to agree with Mark's critique. August may be a month devoted to senators' spending time on the campaign trail, but that doesn't mean Frist can take a break from the job.

That being said, I'm glad Senator Frist chose to respond to Stuttaford's question. But he needs to realize that bloggers will hold him to his promise -- just like we won't forget about his commitment to confirming John Bolton and conservative judges.

UPDATE -- 4:27 p.m.: I forgot to mention the Washington Examiner's excellent editorial on the foolish pork projects that my congressman, Rep. Jim Moran (D.-Va.), is bringing to home to his district.