A window into the complexities of state government spending could be just a few clicks away.
Del. Warren Miller, R-Howard County, introduced a bill that would make financial information available to the public online.
“I think it gives people an opportunity to see how state government is spending money,and that is always good,” he said.
The Web site, operated by the Department of Budget and Management, would include details on grants, loans, contracts and expenditures of more than $25,000, according to the measure.
This is the first year this legislation has been attempted in Maryland, Miller said, and it follows a similar effort on the federal level.
A federal law passed in September 2006 charged the federal Office of Management and Budget with creating a searchable site for federal contracts and grants by next January.
At least 11 other states are considering similar bills, according to the Americans for Tax Reform.
The Department of Budget and Management will have to determine the costs of the measure and necessary resources, Miller said.
The Maryland Taxpayers Association worked closely with Miller on developing the bill.
“You would be able to go in and get aggregated numbers,” Maryland Taxpayers Association Executive Vice President Richard Falknor said. “You wouldn?t have to go to each agency?s Web site, and maybe they would have [financial details] and maybe they wouldn?t.”
Unlike the federal measure, this state initiative would take affect immediately, he said.
At a glance
Among the state delegates who have signed on to this measure are:
» Warren Miller, R-District 9A, Howard
» Susan Aumann, R-District 42, Baltimore
» Gail Bates, R-District 9A, Howard
» William Frank, R-District 42, Baltimore
» J. B. Jennings, R-District 7, Baltimore and Harford
» James King, R-District 33A, Anne Arundel
» Nicholas Kipke, R-District 31, Anne Arundel
» Tony McConkey, R-District 33A, Anne Arundel
? Source: General Assembly
