As you may know, last year President Bush signed S. 2590, the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act, into law. The legislation creates a searchable online database that the general public can use to track the flow of hundreds of billions of dollars in federal grant and contract expenditures. We deserve the same access to state government finances.

Creating a similar website on the state level would entail little cost, but it would greatly increase transparency in the distribution of precious tax dollars and help hold all elected officials accountable for state spending. By acting now, we have the opportunity to lead the nation in making spending more easily accessible to the public. Tell your legislator: "Show me the spending!"

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

Last year, the U.S. Congress passed a law that will require the federal government to list all of its grants and contracts on an easy-to-use Internet database, so taxpayers can see what their money is being spent on and who's getting it.

I think the people of South Dakota deserve the same kind of access to state government spending information. That's why I'm calling on you to support the creation of a searchable online database in our state, one that gives the ordinary citizen a tool to track how their tax dollars are being used.

A website like this would not be expensive for the state to set up, and the cost would be far outweighed by the benefits of basic government information to our democratic system. That's why the federal legislation had support from people and groups of all political beliefs, and state proposals probably will too.

A few other states have limited versions of grant and contract websites, but haven't created the kind of comprehensive, understandable database that we need. Let's make South Dakota the first to do so!

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
April 11, 2007