Checkbook register online
From Sunshine Review
Contents |
Checkbook register online refers to the movement to empower people to scrutinize and oversee government by asking that government agencies post their checkbook registers online in an easily accessible, searchable format.
Peyton Wolcott starts it off
The movement is thought to have originated with Texas education activist and journalist Peyton Wolcott. Wolcott inaugurated the National School District Honor Roll on her website on October 1, 2006. At that time, the list of school districts posting their check registers online was of four smaller school districts in Wolcott's home state of Texas.[1]
Wolcott maintains a roster of school districts that have joined the move to post check registers online. As of mid-August 2008, the list includes 251 school districts in 14 states.
However, Wolcott is not the only activist to promote this idea. In California, small-businessman and community activist Steve Mozena has been promoting his idea for what he calls “post the finances” since 1999. See his website www.postthefinances.com. Mozena calls for all government departments and agencies to post their finances to their respective Web sites every day, in the form of a simple online checkbook. Mozena made “post the finances” a major plank in his 2001 campaign for mayor of Los Angeles, his 2004 run for mayor of Carson, CA, and his runs for councilmember of Carson in 2005 and 2007. He also attempted to have a “post the finances” ballot initiative created in California in 2003.
Some states post spending details
Alaska
Alaska started publishing parts of its checkbook register in early 2008.[2],[3]
Nebraska
Nebraska state treasurer Shane Osborn created a website called Nebraska Spending in September 2007 that discloses many categories of state spending. On May 14, 2008, the website expanded to include information about state contracts over $20,000 and state expenditures over $500,000. The site also now includes an interactive 93 county map showing a breakdown of local property taxes and state aid information.[4]
South Carolina
In September 2007, Governor Mark Sanford of South Carolina created a new website through executive order that allows the public to search many types of state expenditures. Sanford also called on all cabinet agencies to build their own online databases of internal travel and office supply expenses.[5]
Texas
In January 2007, Gov. Rick Perry proposed requiring all state agencies to publish expenditures online in a clear and consistent format.
The Texas Budget Source, a private website sponsored by the Texas Public Policy Foundation, started publishing many state spending details online in July 2008.[6]
See also
| "A popular Government, without popular information, or the means of acquiring it, is but a prologue to a farce or a tragedy; or, perhaps both. Knowledge will forever govern ignorance; and a people who mean to be their own governors must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives."
- James Madison, American president |
References
- ↑ History of the voluntary online school district check register project: "The National School District Honor Roll", by Peyton Wolcott, April 18, 2007
- ↑ Americans for Tax Reform blog, Alaskans Check Register now online, Feb 8, 2008
- ↑ Alaska checkbook online
- ↑ Phase 2 of Nebraska Spending
- ↑ Taxpayer Group Applauds South Carolina Governor, Nebraska Treasurer for Putting State Spending Online
- ↑ Texas Budget Source
