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Taxpayers Deserve a More Transparent View of Columbus
In 2006, President George W. Bush signed into law the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act, a bill that created a searchable online database that can be easily used by the public to research federal grant and contract expenditures in excess of $25,000. Now, with the click of a mouse, citizens are able to track where federal their tax dollars are spent.
Following the passage of this legislation, state governments across the country began creating similar databases for their own expenditures. As a result, taxpayers in nearly a dozen states have the ability to search and sort millions of dollars in spending. Passage of HB 420 would add Ohio to that growing list of states and could bring our government into a new age of accountability.
HB 420 would bring transparency to Columbus by creating a Web site similar to that of the federal government. The site would contain detailed information on how the state is spending your tax dollars, the purpose of such outlays, and what entities provided and received the funds.
| Sample Letter for Campaign |
Subject: Please Support HB 420
Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,
Recently the federal government unveiled an easy-to-use Internet database listing most grant and contract expenditures. Now it's time for Ohio to do the same thing.
House Bill 420 would allow taxpayers to access information on where the state is spending their tax dollars, the expenditure's purpose, and what person or organization is receiving those funds. I believe a database of this nature is long overdue for the people of Ohio. After all, nearly a dozen other states have set up similar Web sites, and they've all been created with minimal amounts of money.
This isn't a Democratic or Republican issue -- this is about opening up the workings of government for the people who fund it. Some will think they're getting a great buy for their tax dollars, others won't. But everyone will have the facts they need to make informed judgments and participate in the democratic process.
I urge you to support HB 420, and show me the spending!
Sincerely,
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Campaign Launched:
March 09, 2008
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In September 2006, President George W. Bush signed into law S. 2590, the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act. This legislation, sponsored by Senators Barack Obama (D-IL) and Tom Coburn (R-OK), directed the U.S. Office of Management and Budget to create a searchable online database that can be easily used by the public to research federal grant and contract expenditures exceeding $25,000. Now citizens can visit www.USAspending.gov and track exactly where their federal tax dollars are spent.
After the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act was signed into law, states throughout the country began to follow suit by creating similar databases for their own government's outlays. As a result, taxpayers in Hawaii, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New York, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Texas have a more transparent view of what their elected officials are spending.
Passage of HB 420 would bring accountability and transparency to Columbus by creating a Web site similar to www.USAspending.gov. With your support, by January of next year Ohioans could easily access valuable information on:
- The name and location of the entity receiving the award
- All government grants, subgrants, contracts, subcontracts, and loan expenditures
- The purpose of the funding and the state agency providing the award
Not only would this kind of transparency offer many benefits to taxpayers, it could also be achieved at a minimum cost. In fact, Missouri was able to create its Internet portal using existing state revenues. In any case, such expenses pale in comparison to the strides that will be made toward giving citizens a more complete view of the bureaucracy they underwrite.
Please ask your state legislators to pass HB 420. After all, you have a right to know where your money is going!
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