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For Immediate
Release
6/1/09
 
Senate Approves Browne's Taxpayer
Transparency Act
Legislation would expand public access to state spending records
The Senate today (June 1) approved a measure introduced by
Senator Pat Browne (R-16) to expand the public’s access to state
spending records.
Senate Bill 105, introduced by Senator Browne and commonly
known as the Taxpayer Transparency Act, would direct the
Department of the Treasury to create and maintain a searchable
budget database-driven website that the public can access, for
free, to obtain:
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Information on grants and contracts provided by government
agencies. All transactions above $25,000 would be
accessible to the public;
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Agency performance indicators and quarterly performance
results compared to these indicators;
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Agency line-by-line appropriation analysis including
user-friendly detailed monetary breakouts and detailed
narrative descriptions.
Based on the experiences of other states with similar
databases, the startup cost is expected to range from $60,000 to
$150,000. However, the investment will pay off by providing
citizens with increased access to information, which in turn
will increase accountability and reduce wasteful spending on the
part of state government, Senator Browne said.
"My proposal is a follow-up to government reform measures
already approved by the General Assembly and the rules adopted
by the Senate. We have taken major steps to improve the way we
disclose information to the residents of the Commonwealth. I
feel that this legislation is another important and essential
move in that direction," Senator Browne said.
Contact:
Lesley Crozier
(717) 787-1349
Additional Information:
Reforming
Government
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