Given the massive scale of the Panama Papers whistleblower leak, many observers have been surprised to see that only 211 people with U.S. addresses have surfaced in the data. This low number actually should come as no surprise though, writes Joshua New in The Hill. Americans have little reason to hide money in offshore shell corporations when it is exceedingly easy to do so right here in the United States. The Panama Papers should serve as a wakeup call for lawmakers who have failed to implement simple disclosure rules that would dramatically increase financial transparency and accountability by applying the same open data principles that Congress has already recognized are necessary for the government.
