Email this page
an effort to create searchable online databases for government expenditures
a tool to highlight the hypocrisy of tax hikers
Constitutional or statutory requirement to rein in growth of revenues end expenditures
a commitment made by elected officials and candidates for elected office never to raise taxes
Raising the bar for tax increases
Requiring a cool-off period for all bills with a fiscal impact
pork-barrel spending - the broken windows of the budget
VA Transparency Gets Unexpected Veto Session Boost
Thursday, April 9, 2009 9:48 AM
As the Family Foundation of Virginia reports, the transparency legislation sponsored by Sen. Ken Cuccinelli and Del. Ben Cline, and passed during the legislative session just got a little stronger thanks to an unexpected act by Gov. Tim Kaine.
Yesterday, during the General Assembly's veto session, House and Senate concurred unanimously to accept Governor Tim Kaine’s substitute version of the two bills, which were identical when they reached the governor's desk. According to the Family Foundation, which bases its verdict on conversations with legislators and staffers, the substitute appears to be stronger than the bils that passed.
Says the Family Foundation:
Now a huge window has opened up on state spending, with a massive spotlight to boot. Soon, citizens — be they media, grassroots activists, policy wonks or even (for Heaven’s sake) bloggers — will be able to closely examine exactly how Virginia government spends the hard-earned tax money we send it, and with which vendors it contracts for services, as well as other open government features. It simply is not enough to say a department spends this much money; we need to know down to the line how much, on what and with whom. That, in turn, will let us know if the purpose was worthy or wasteful, duplicative or duplicitous. You get the picture.
What a nice surprise during the veto session!
Reader Comments:
Thanks for citing our blog, but let me clarify: Gov. Kaine SIGNED Sen. Cuccinelli's bill. He amended Del. Cline's bill. I can only suppose he wanted one secured before going for more. So, we started with ideal bills, the legislature gave us something less but better than the present system, then the Gov. and legislature teamed to improve upon what was passed originally. We're pleased.
Steve Rossie / Richmond, VA
Add a commentYour email address will not be displayed but will be added to our contact database. If you do not wish us to contact you, please leave that field blank.
A Special Project of
atr.org
atr.org
722 12th Street NW, Suite 400
Washington, DC
202-785-0261
friends@atr.org
/>
