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March 20, 2009 by
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Colorado SB 57, sponsored by Republican state senator Ted Harvey, would have required schools to post their spending reports online in a searchable database. Revolutionary? No. A good idea? You bet.
Unfortunately, Democrats didn’t think so, and it went down in the House Education committee in a party-line vote, 8-5. According to the , education associations contributed the following amounts to the committee members:
*Name of Rep – Total Amount from Education Lobby Organizations – Vote on SB 57
*Randy Baumgardner – $0 – Yes
*Debbie Benefield – $6,975 – No
*Tom Massey – $500 – Yes
*Michael Merrifield – $5,250 – No
*Karen Middleton – $3,125 – No
*Carole Murray – $0 – Yes
*Cherylin Peniston – $4750 – No
*Kevin Priola – $0 – Yes
*Christine Scanlan – $5,000 – No
*Sue Schafer – $5,750 – No
*Ken Summers – $0 – Yes
*Nancy Todd – $4,650 – No
*Judy Solano – $5,750- No
So do you think those contributions made a difference?
This is an embarrassment to Colorado. Shame, shame, shame on the reps that didn’t vote for open government during SUNSHINE WEEK of all times. I am guessing the voters in your districts may reward you with a similar “no” vote in your next election.
You can read all of the twists and turns at .
More on the education lobby’s strategy against SB 57 at the .
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March 18, 2009 by
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Here is more Sunshine Week shenanigans:
* levitra com- updated their study to show the real costs of education, using standard accounting practices. A study of FY2007 found that taxpayers spent more than $6.5 billion on Oklahoma’s public education system, or $10,942 per pupil. This kind of study is necessary because of the to base per-pupil spending on an average of its neighboring states. Real numbers are necessary to give voters correct information on how much of their money is going towards schools. ()
* levitra com- pointed out examples of abuses of the Freedom of Information Act and open meetings laws. The editorial ended with this: “We hope that Sunshine Week encourages an ongoing effort to ensure information about how tax dollars are used by government is always accessible and that the public’s business is always conducted in public.” also opined for more sunshine.
More again tomorrow.
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March 17, 2009 by
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Well, kids, it’s Sunshine Week, which means every news outlet is putting a spotlight on transparency. Here’s a little round-up mix of preachy editorials, investigative work, and updates on what some of my fellow groups are doing to open up this musty government of ours.
* levitra com- The Minnesota Freedom Foundation wrote an printed in the Duluth News Tribune that praised work to build a statewide transparency database, but pointed out some very disturbing trends. These concerns include groups circumventing open meetings laws by hosting “workshops”, restricting or banning coverage of the legislature by old and new media outlets, withholding draft documents (including budgets) from the public, and banning citizens from recording government meetings.
* levitra com- Attorney General Mike Cox hosted an on the Freedom of Information Act and the Open Meetings Act. He said when there is less money to go around, people want to make sure it is being spent wisely.
* levitra com- Marta Mossburg from the wrote about some ideas for greater local transparency.
* levitra com- The highlighted a few important transparency activists throughout the country, including the creator of , which is now a portal on Sunshine Review.
More of these tomorrow.
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March 17, 2009 by
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When is a government website NOT a government website? Michael Quinn Sullivan from reports:
In difficult economic times, transparency is an easy answer to make sure taxpayers are getting enough bang for their buck. Groups like , , and are doing their part to remind government officials of that priority.
Related: Check out website.
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March 12, 2009 by
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Just when I think Illinois is finally on the right track, I take a quick look at the headlines and my hopes are dashed. What’s today’s news? Well, pork and hidden information.
The in the federal budget have finally been released. In my opinion, these are among the most outrageous:
* $237,500 for the repair and restoration of the Rialto Square Theater in Joliet
* $95,000 for History Makers, Chicago, for a digitization project
* $49,000 for security cameras for Jasper County School District
* $47,500 for the Easter Seals’s playground expansion and remodeling project in Ottawa
* $900,000 for astronomy equipment in Adler Adler Planetarium ()
* $786,000 for salaries and expenses for crop production and food processing in Peoria
* $2,077,000 for salaries and expenses for National Center for Food Safety and Technology
Let me say this: I am fundamentally against earmarks. However, I understand they were the grease in the wheels of Obama’s budget legislation. I get it. What I DON’T get is why my tax dollars are funding theaters, digitization projects, security cameras for a with 3300 students, playgrounds, astronomy equipment, salaries, and operational expenses. Local projects should be funded with local money. State projects should be in the regular budget of its parent agency. If a congressman has ideas on how to prioritize, he or she should sit down with agency staff and have those discussions.
And… as if the pork isn’t enough, is refusing to release audit findings and financial reports of a trust fund believed to be worth $300 million. The fund used to be administered by the Illinois Funeral Directors Association (IFDA), but was taken over by the comptroller’s office. Funeral directors fear financial mismanagement will leave them on the hook for millions of dollars. The :
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Why won’t Hynes release the documents? Well, his financial information officer says it’s that pesky that doesn’t mandate their release. This subterfuge is twice as frustrating when a person realizes that Hynes has been in Illinois for putting a contracts/campaign contribution database online. In fact, , Hynes states:
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has an idea of how to go about that.
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I’m glad someone gets it.
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March 5, 2009 by
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Oklahoma Senator is a known crusader against wasteful, secret, and pork-barrel spending and earmarks. He did the nation a favor this week when he posted an section on his website.
Interesting facts about this legislation:
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According to CBO, the omnibus will cost $410 billion, $32 billion (8.4%) more than FY 2008 spending. The legislation is 1,128 pages long. Each page is equal to $363 million in spending.levitra com
• $19 billion (4.9%) more than President Bush’s request
• $19 billion (4.9% more than the cost of extending the continuing resolution
• $32 billion (8.4%) more than last yearlevitra com
Total omnibus earmarks: 8,570
Total cost: $7.7 billionThe three previously enacted FY 2009 spending bills included a total of 2,321 earmarks, costing $6.6 billion.
Total FY 2009 earmarks: 10,891
Total FY 2009 earmark spending: $14.3 billion
Good grief.
H/T: - compiled
Also… as a plug for our friends at , Senator Coburn is the keynote speaker at a . I hope you will join me in supporting American Majority’s mission of recruiting activists that believe in fiscal restraint. Sen. Coburn could use some back-up!
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March 5, 2009 by
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In an , states he is not accepting his entire cut of the stimulus package in order to keep competitive. Also, he does not philosophically agree with the stimulus package. He advocates for more tax cuts and “targeted temporary spending”.
Jindal emphasizes that the best way to grow the economy is through tax cuts.
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He questions how certain spending project in the bill will even stimulate the economy.
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Governor Jindal rejected stimulus dollars for unemployment insurance because it would result in raising taxes on businesses.
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March 5, 2009 by
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There were many voiced concerns over lack the lack of transparency in the passing of the California budget agreement according to a and . During the making of the plan to ameliorate California’s budget crisis, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and five legislative leaders effectively locked out input from other lawmakers and the public.
Democrat state senator said,
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said,
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, a public transportation advocate at the said,
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You can check out information about the on .
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March 2, 2009 by
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Although national figures such as Barack Obama, John McCain, Tom Coburn, and Bobby Jindal have been forceful advocates for government transparency, the message doesn’t always seem to filter down to the municipal level. This morning, I began my workday by reading and an article in the levitra com by Helen Barrett titled ““. The article laments the lack of openness in the city council, including possible violations of the .
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Exactly.
But then… cities were somewhat redeemed in my mind when I saw a press release from , who is an outstanding up-and-coming public servant of . Mayor Cole commissioned a redesign of the recently, and proactively sought to include every single item on the .
Congratulations, Mayor Cole and the city of Carbondale, and thanks for restoring this transparency advocate’s faith in local governments. I guess now you aren’t only the “Capitol of Southern Illinois”, but also the current “Transparency Capitol of The Entire State of Illinois”. Now go have a Don Taco to celebrate.