House passes budget transparency amendments

GateHouse News Service

Posted Apr 29, 2010 @ 03:22 PM

Chelmsford —

State Representative Cory Atkins (D-Concord) yesterday joined her colleagues in the Massachusetts House of Representatives in passing budget amendments aimed at increasing the openness and accessibility of the budget process.

“As a State Representative, one of my longstanding priorities has been reforming our government to make it more transparent and more accountable,” said Atkins. “Taxpayers have a right to know how their money is being spent. This is a monumental change and a great day for openness in government.”The amendments, sponsored by Representative Jay Kaufman (D-Lexington), will create a website that lists all state expenditures and the names of all vendors who receive state funds. This website will be free and searchable by anyone. Citizens will be able to view and compile data on state expenditures as they see fit.

“This is a big win for the taxpayers of the Commonwealth. With this provision, Massachusetts will now be on par with the 32 other states that make state budget transparency, accountability, and accessibility an indispensible function of open government,” said Kaufman. “Public access to the way we raise and spend money is essential, enabling us to make more-informed decisions for the tax-paying constituents who elect us to serve on their behalf.”

These amendments – coupled with the online, searchable database of government expenditures established by the FY11 House budget proposal – promise to increase the visibility of state spending.

According to a recent MASSPIRG study, 32 other states provide on online database with in-depth detail on government expenditures. With the establishment of a searchable, online database in the House FY11 budget proposal, Massachusetts would join these states in terms of accessibility to information on government spending.

The amendments will make government expenditures more visible by requiring the public disclosure of the results of certain tax credit program and including tax credits within the definition of “state awards” that are posted in the online budget database established by the FY11 House budget proposal.

http://www.wickedlocal.com/chelmsford/town_info/government/x57977100/House-passes-budget-transparency-amendments