CFA Urges Support For New Jersey’s Transparency in Government Act

Friday, June 18, 2010 9:39 AM by Julie Borowski

Yesterday, CFA sent a letter to the New Jersey General Assembly urging support of Senator Joe Pennacchio's SB 708 which will give teeth to Governor Christie's executive order requiring state spending transparency. SB 708 will make state expenditure information accessible to all taxpayers on a searchable website. In the midst of New Jersey's fiscal crisis, the benefits of a comprehensive website that includes public salary information and agency performance outcomes could be substantial. Taxpayers will have access to information on state expenditures which will empower them to spot waste or abuse in the system. The momentum behind transparency does not stop at the Garden State’s borders. Noting the success the Transparency in Government Act is having, Rep. Jim Christiana in Pennsylvania put out a press release today lauding his neighbor’s efforts and calling on his state do pick up the slack on spending transparency. We have supported Rep. Christiana’s transparency efforts in the past, and are hopeful that this issue can gain traction in Pennsylvania as well.

 In fact, New Jersey has helped to inspire State Rep. Jim Christiana to co-author a similar transparency bill House Bill 1880 in Pennsylvania. We hope that these transparency movements will continue to gain momentum and encourage other states to follow in their footsteps. From our letter:

Currently, more than two dozen states mandate that taxpayers be able to track state expenditures on a searchable website. The transparency websites in these states have enjoyed bipartisan support and are met with enthusiasm by taxpayers - citizens are eager to discover where their hard-earned dollars are going. New Jersey should follow in the footsteps of states all around the country that are launching effective and popular transparency websites by passing S. 708 swiftly.

 Opening up state finances to public scrutiny benefits both the state and its taxpayers. States have been able to use their transparency portals to identify savings and inefficiencies, saving taxpayers millions. Just in Texas, State Comptroller Susan Combs was able to spot $8.7 million in savings by scrutinizing spending on her state transparency site.

Click here to read our entire letter.

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