[OpenSpending] Following the Money 2012

Wed Mar 14 13:29:43 UTC 2012

Today we release our new report, Following the
<http://www.uspirg.org/reports/usp/following-money-2012>  Money 2012: How
the States Rank on Providing Online Access to Government Spending Data,
which grades all 50 states on how well they provide online access to
information about government spending. States were given "A" to "F" grades
based on the characteristics of the online transparency systems they have
created to provide information on contracts, subsidies and spending at
quasi-public agencies. 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 14, 2012

CONTACT: 

Phineas Baxandall <http://uspirg.org/staff/xxp/phineas-baxandall> , Senior
Analyst for Tax and Budget Policy

(617) 747-4351, Phineas at pirg.org 

Ryan Pierannunzi, Tax and Budget Associate

(617) 747-4315, rpierannunzi at pirg.org

Report Card Ranks 50 States on Transparency of Spending

In Following the Money
<http://www.uspirg.org/reports/usp/following-money-2012>  2012: How the
States Rank on Providing Online Access to Government Spending Data,
researchers at the United States Public Interest Research Group (U.S. PIRG)
graded all 50 states on how well they provide online access to information
about government spending. States were given "A" to "F" grades based on the
characteristics of the online transparency systems they have created to
provide information on contracts, subsidies and spending at quasi-public
agencies. 

 "State governments across the country continue to be more transparent about
where the money goes, extending checkbook-level disclosure of data on
spending to contracting, tax subsidies, development incentives and other
expenditures," explained Phineas
<http://uspirg.org/staff/xxp/phineas-baxandall>  Baxandall, Senior Analyst
for Tax and Budget Policy at U.S. PIRG and co-author of the report. "But
most states still have a lot of room for improvement."

Among the findings in the report:

*	In 2011, eight states created new transparency websites:
Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Mexico, North
Dakota, and West Virginia.

*        Seven states garnered "A" grades. These "leading" states - Texas,
Kentucky, Indiana, Louisiana, Massachusetts, West Virginia, and Arizona -
provide information that is highly searchable, and include detailed data
about government contracts, tax subsidies and grants to businesses.

*        Five "failing" states received an "F" grade, because they lack
important information that allows residents to monitor state spending. Four
of these states don't provide checkbook-level information about government
spending.

*        Democratic and Republican-leaning states perform equally well when
it comes to transparency this year. The average score for a
Democratic-leaning state (determined by political party of the current
governor) was 70.2, while that of a Republican-leaning state was 68.9, a
difference of less than two points.

The report, Following The Money 2012: How The 50 States Rate In Providing
Online Access To Government Spending Data, is the second annual study from
U.S. <http://www.uspirg.org/>  Public Interest Research Group on state
spending transparency. The group reached out to public officials responsible
for providing transparency information and received substantive feedback
from officials in 47 states.

This year's report found that 46 states now provide an online database of
government expenditures with "checkbook-level" detail, a major increase from
32 states two years ago. Twenty nine state transparency websites now provide
information on government expenditures through tax code deductions,
exemptions and credits - up from eight states two years ago.

Said Baxandall, "Citizens expect information to be at their fingertips the
way they can view their cell phone minutes or the location of a package.
Putting spending information online helps hold government accountable and
allows taxpayers to see where the money goes." 

States that have created or improved their online transparency have
typically done so with little upfront cost.   In fact, states with
top-flight transparency websites actually save money for taxpayers, while
also restoring public confidence in government, and preventing misspending
and pay-to-play contracts.

"It is important to continually strive to improve the state's transparency
website because it shines a light on government spending," said Baxandall.
"Given our budget problems, American taxpayers need to be able to follow the
money."  

To read the report, click here
<http://www.uspirg.org/reports/usp/following-money-2012> .

#    #     #

U.S. PIRG <http://www.uspirg.org/> , the federation of state Public Interest
Research Groups, is a non-profit, non-partisan public interest advocacy
organization.

Follow us on Twitter <http://www.twitter.com/USPIRG>  and Facebook
<http://www.facebook.com/uspirg> .

_____________________

Ryan Pierannunzi

U.S. PIRG

617-747-4315

 <mailto:rpierannunzi at pirg.org> rpierannunzi at pirg.org

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