Still Waiting On Transparency in Wisconsin

Wednesday, June 23, 2010 12:49 PM by Julie Borowski

State spending transparency websites are popping up all over the country. Overwhelmingly, citizens are eager to use these transparency websites to learn where and how their state is spending tax dollars and over two dozen states have reaped the benefits of creating transparency websites. Unfortunately, states such as Wisconsin still live in the dark ages. While Wisconsin citizens have one of the highest tax burdens in the country, citizens cannot find out where their money is going on a searchable website. After her transparency bill failed in the 07-08 session, State Senator Mary Lazich is planning to try again when the legislature reconvenes in January by introducing another piece of legislation that would instantiate transparency for Wisconsinites. Senator Lazich discussed yesterday in an op-ed that the state can no longer hide behind excuses that the portal would cost too much to create, citing the relative ease with which Missouri created its website and the fairly low cost of the federal transparency site, USAspending.gov. Currently, Milwaukee County and Milwaukee Public Schools put their expenditures online, which is a great effort at the local level – but the state needs to catch up.  The bordering states of Minnesota and Illinois both have spending transparency websites—why should Wisconsin be lagging behind? If you are in Wisconsin, contact your Wisconsin representative and tell them that the state needs transparency now! 

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