[Vision2020] Idaho Ineffective in Ease of Tracking State Funds

[Art Deco]

I wonder how many other governmental things Idaho gets an "F" in.

w.

On Thu, Mar 15, 2012 at 4:21 AM, Tom Hansen <thansen at moscow.com> wrote:

> As expected . . .
>
> Courtesy of today's (March 15, 2012) Spokesman-Review.
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Washington earns B, Idaho gets F in ease of tracking state funds
>
> OLYMPIA – Washington got a B in transparency and Idaho got an F from a
> national group looking at how easy state governments make it for voters to
> “follow the money.”
>
> The U.S. Public Interest Research Group graded the states on whether
> voters easily can track how money is spent, on what, and who gets it,
> reviewing websites set up to provide information about their
> agencies’ budgets.
>
> Last year when the group made a similar survey, Washington also got an F.
> Since then, the state set up an advanced budget website that is searchable
> and user-friendly, although it doesn’t have as much historical information
> as some other states, the graders said. It is, however, taking the lead in
> “mapping” some forms of state spending, so average citizens can see where
> the money for state construction projects is spent.
>
> Idaho, meanwhile, had the lowest score of any of the states reviewed. It
> was criticized for “weak or superficial information about
> government expenditures.”
>
> Phineas Baxandall, senior analyst for tax and budget policy for the
> organization, said state governments across the country need to be more
> transparent about where money goes.
>
> “Citizens expect information to be at their fingertips the way they can
> view their cellphone minutes or the location of a package,” he said.
> “Putting spending information online helps hold government accountable and
> allows taxpayers to see where the money goes.”
>
> ---------------
>
> Washington state’s budget website, run by the Legislative Evaluation and
> Accountability Program, can be found at:
>
> http://www.leap.leg.wa.gov
>
> ------------------------------
> Seeya round town, Moscow.
>
> Tom Hansen
> Moscow, Idaho
>
> "If not us, who?
> If not now, when?"
>
> - Unknown
>
>
>
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-- 
Art Deco (Wayne A. Fox)
art.deco.studios at gmail.com
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