It’s time to put an end to the excess spending and inefficiency in government.  The Iowa Progress Project is calling for a “Transparency in Spending” bill, otherwise known as Google Government, that will provide greater transparency in the budget process so taxpayers are made aware of where their tax dollars are being spent.

The “Transparency in Spending” bill will create a state expenditure information website made available to the public.  The website will make spending information more accessible and allow for public scrutiny before taxpayer money is wasted and not after.  This legislation will increase accountability in spending and decrease incentives for wasteful spending.

Numerous states have already adopted legislation similar to the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006.  The state of Washington provides an excellent example with its passage of Senate Bill 6818-Promoting Transparency in State Expenditures earlier this year.   The legislation requires the state’s office of financial management to establish a state expenditure information website made available to the public. It is difficult for the citizens of Iowa to determine how and where their tax dollars are spent.  Translating the state budget is a tedious task and wasteful spending often goes unnoticed if the press does not report it.  In just the last year, the following spending was approved by the Legislature – much of it the general public does not know about:

Ø  $300,000 for the construction of a train depot and platform in Dubuque to accommodate the future possibility of Amtrak service between Dubuque and Chicago.  Unfortunately, there is no Amtrak service to Dubuque, a fact unlikely to change in the future. 

Ø  $80,000 to repair an antique organ in Clermont.  This line-item was considered too wasteful by Governor Culver in 2007, yet he signed for the funding this year.

Ø  $50,000 to market a free shuttle service to state employees.

Ø  $400,000 for a new computer system for the Department of Administrative Services instead of for an illegal drug task force at the Department of Inspections and Appeals.

The “Transparency in Spending” website will be a user-friendly tool that allows taxpayers to monitor spending.  The legislation, along with the website, will provide the type of transparency necessary to prevent wasteful earmarks.  It will force state legislators to be honest and responsible with the state’s budget.