Buckeye starts naming names on transparency pledge
9 October, 2008
The Buckeye Institute of Ohio continues its call for transparency, asking 1,400 candidates for office to sign their transparency pledge. The meat of the pledge cites specific objectives for transparency in every level of government.
I acknowledge and state that, at a minimum, the following items must be maintained on a Web site operated by each government entity:
• Financial data shall include all contracts, the checkbook register, all budgets, collective
bargaining agreements, payroll, all financial audits, and all taxes, fees and other revenues
collected by each government entity.
• Administrative data shall include, with sufficient advance time to comply with notice
requirements and to be useful to the citizens served, notices of meetings and agendas, with
supporting documentation; minutes of meetings, both in draft and approved form; contact
information for elected and appointed officials, including email contact information;
performance audits; a database of voting records; ethics, lobbying and conflict of interest
disclosures.
• Public records process data shall include a public records policy, a record retention schedule,
contact information for public records response personnel, and any forms used, in addition to
regular reports on response times, completeness and other public records performance data
such as number of requests made.
• Jurisdiction and compliance data shall include any relevant constitutions, charters,
intergovernmental agreements, bylaws and other fundamental documents.
Check out Buckeye’s Ohio Sunshine wiki to see the candidates vowing to show you how they spend your money.
Nevada Transparency Sites
15 September, 2008
Sometimes when an idea is good once, it’s better twice- which is the case with Nevada’s new transparency websites.
The Nevada Policy Research Institute launched TransparentNevada.com this week, which includes searchable county and state financial data such as purchasing contracts, budgets, government employee salaries, lobbying expenses. The site also includes some departmental expenditures (education, transportation, and Health and Human Services), and a blog.
Nevada Governor Jim Gibbons hopped on the transparency bandwagon, forcing transparency by executive order last March. Nevada Open Government should be up and running soon, and will include searchable budgets, expenditures, contracts, and grants. If you go to the site now, you are greeted with links to miscellaneous financial data and reports.
These two websites will hopefully mean double trouble for the state’s tax-eaters and rent-seekers.
Candidates tout transparency as an issue
26 August, 2008
A while back, I wrote a post on presidential candidates taking a stand on transparency with tax dollars, so it didn’t surprise me when I started seeing down-ballot campaigns begin to use open government as a key plank in their platforms. I thought I would begin to randomly post the ideas from campaigns as I come across them. Please note that the posting has nothing to do with party or support from me or the Sam Adams Alliance, but merely should serve as an example of some of the ideas being batted about this election season.
Robert Owens, Independent for Ohio Attorney General, was the first AG candidate to sign Buckeye’s Transparency Pledge. Owens is discussing the need for more openness in state contracts.
Side Note: You can hear my podcast interview discussing Buckeye’s new Transparency Center with Mike Maurer here.
Colorado’s race for Eagle County Commissioner has at least one candidate addressing the need for transparency. The Aspen Times printed a letter to the editor from Debbie Buckley that stated the following:
I believe the county should increase the effort to be transparent by making expenditures available and understandable through the county website. The data should be searchable within categories and be accompanied by a very brief explanation.
True transparency must include ready access to reliable, comprehensive, timely and easily understandable information on spending. Active participation of Eagle County citizens will depend on the ease of use of this system.
Transparency: Less taxpayer dollars spent, More taxpayer faith in government.
Empower Texans Asks the Tough Q’s on Education Funding
21 August, 2008
I wanted to take this opportunity to highlight “Empower Texans” and their campaign to bring accountability and transparency to all levels of government in Texas.
Recently, Empower Texans, posted the first in what the organization promises to be a series of hard hitting videos and public statements asking the tough questions about what exactly are the taxpayers of Texas are getting for their dollars in education and other government services.
This video is about 8 minutes in length and I encourage you to take a look even if you do not live in Texas because every taxpayer should be asking these types of questions from their elected officials.
In case you do not know much about Empower Texans, their website states Empower Texans exists “to create and sustain a system of strong fiscal stewardship within all levels of Texas government, ensuring the greatest amounts of economic and personal liberty, and promoting public policies that provide individuals with the freedom to use their strengths and talents in pursuit of greater opportunities.”
They accomplish this goal by informing “voters, taxpayers and elected officials about policy solutions that are consistent with the principles of individual liberty and free markets, while working to build support for those policies among key constituencies.”
It is great to see citizens and organizations fighting for liberty and free-market principles.
Buckeye Institute launches transparency project
12 August, 2008
File this under No Taxation Without Information…
Ohio’s Buckeye Institute launched its Center for Transparent and Accountable Government this week. Former reporter Mike Maurer will gather and publish budgets, contracts, information on how to access to public records, and other data to show Ohio taxpayers where their money is being spent.
The Center’s two key components are a transparency wiki called OhioSunshine.org, and a candidate transparency pledge. Buckeye’s press release states:
Buckeye Institute President David Hansen said that open, easily available information is essential to good government.
“The legitimacy of Ohio government rests on the consent of the governed, but that consent doesn’t mean much when so much of government occurs hidden, or deeply buried,” Hansen said. “Twenty-First Century information technology should be applied to draw back the curtain that stands between government and the people.”
More information can be found at Thurber’s Thoughts, FOI FYI, Kentucky Progress, and Cleveland.com.
KY Progress takes gov to the woodshed
8 August, 2008
Kentucky Progress called out Governor Steve Beshear’s administration on calling a transparency taskforce meeting when a key leader in the movement, Secretary of State Trey Grayson, cannot be present. Grayson will be attending the Republican National Convention during the scheduled meeting time. Kentucky Progress notes that this will only be the second taskforce meeting since the inaugural June 19th session. Grayson has already launched a searchable checkbook registry, Check It Out Kentucky, that he says should serve as an example of how transparency can be accomplished.
The Bluegrass Policy Blog notes that Kentucky will likely follow Missouri Governor Matt Blunt’s model in transparency by executive order, but seems to be dragging his feet instead of opening his books to KY taxpayers.
The WHAS political blog has more. Go check it out.
New EFF vid: Transparency in Gov’t- Updated
19 July, 2008
Evergreen Freedom Foundation’s newest release: Transparency in Government.
Sam Adams Alliance Launches New Gov’t Transparency Site
17 July, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 17, 2008
New Website Offers Information on Government Transparency
Sunshine Review Website Helps Citizens and Journalists
CHICAGO, IL–Today, the Sam Adams Alliance launched a new website, SunshineReview.org, to over 600 conservative participants and bloggers at the Americans for Prosperity state summit in Austin, Texas. Sunshine Review analyzes government secrecy by evaluating whether if government websites effectively disclose information to the public and media.
“Sunshine Review is a goldmine as it removes the information iron curtain between government and the public,” said John Tsarpalas, president of the Sam Adams Alliance. “Whether you’re a concerned citizen or a journalist on a deadline, Sunshine Review lets you know if government agencies want to share information with you.”
Sunshine Review determines government’s commitment to transparency by identifying if the following items are published online:
• Yearly budgets;
• Open meeting schedules and minutes;
• Contact information for elected and administrative officials;
• Audit reports;
• Bids and contracts for purchases over $10,000; and
• Taxpayer-funded lobbying information.
“By creating a new web 2.0 tool for citizens, we are bringing information online that otherwise would have been kept in dusty government storage rooms,” said Tsarpalas.
The Sunshine Review website is part of the Sam Adams Alliance’s “No Taxation Without Information” campaign to promote greater transparency at the state and local level. Currently, http://sunshinereview.org/index.php/Main_Page has 85,550 page views and over 95 contributors.
About Sunshine Review
Sunshine Review is a wiki website designed to call attention to the information gap between citizens and their government, promote the importance of government transparency and openness, and compile existing government information in one easy-to-access resource. Sunshine Review is a project of the Sam Adams Alliance, a new media non-profit based in Chicago.
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Liberal Minnesota Media Source Promotes Sunshine Review
17 July, 2008
I am sorry that it has been so long since my last post. Do not fear I am back and ready to fight once again for liberty.
A friend of mine forwarded me this recent post from the Minnesota Independent promoting the Sam Adams Alliance’s Sunshine Review Wiki.
The Minnesota Independent is a liberal on-line media source and it was quite shocking to see it highlight and promote Sunshine Review.
I visit Sunshine Review frequently to get updates on open government transparency issues from every state in the nation.
I hope you will click here to read the original post in the Minnesota Independent or click here to visit the Sunshine Review wiki.
Keep up the good work Sam Adams Alliance!!
Transparency via Twitter: Let Congress Tweet!
15 July, 2008
I’m a little late in covering Twittergate, the controversy swirling around Congressman John Culberson (R-TX) and his right to tweet from the House floor. In case you missed it, Cong. Culberson got into a little hot water with the House Dems when it was learned he was communicating with his constituents in real time via microblogging. The congressman defended his actions, saying his tweets gave his constituents updates on how he voted on bills, and why. He also uses Twitter to exchange ideas on policy and politics with other congressmen, staff, and constituents.
NPR gives the details on the controversy:
In essence, members of Congress are forbidden to post on any Website that might include politicking or advertising, at least in their capacities as representatives. Communications on external sites must be clearly identified as coming from a House of Representatives official for official business.
For Rep. John Culberson, a Texas Republican, the rules amount to a virtual gag order. Culberson opened a Twitter account to help him stay in touch with his consituents. Because the microblogging service allows only 140 characters per post, adding the required language is almost impossible. Faced with an official crackdown, Culberson began working to change the rules. “Send to all: Congress, change the rules,” he posted on the site this week. “Talk to us on our social networks. http://LetOurCongressTweet.org Let our Congress Tweet!”
Culberson is joined in his fight by Congressman Tim Ryan (D-OH) and hordes of 2.0 activists. If you want to follow Cong. Culberson on Twitter, or just want to see what all the fuss is all about, go here.
My question to the House Dem leadership is: In a time of low Congressional approval ratings, why do you want to be LESS transparent with the American people? OPEN UP AND TWEET!
Here’s what others have to say on Twittergate:
Patrick Ruffini from The Next Right
Heather Havenstein from ComputerWorld
George Donnelly from Arm Your Mind for Liberty
If you blogged on Twittergate, post the link in the comments and I’ll add it to the list.
