OPINION: Open records
July 29, 2008
Daily News Opinion
FANS OF TRANSPARENCY and accountability in state government haven't had much to cheer about lately. A growing list of scandals had steadily undermined public trust in Harrisburg. That's why it's refreshing to find a new effort that actually makes it easier for citizens to track how their money is spent. State Treasurer Robin Wiessmann recently launched the Pennsylvania Contracts e-Library, which contains information about every contract and grant exceeding $5,000 that is issued by state government. The database can be searched by many categories including awarding agency, dollar amount, and company.
If you visit the site — www.patreasury.org — and start poking around, you'll find interesting information on who is being paid what by the state.
Only contracts awarded after July 1, 2008, are being posted for public review. Officials should look for ways to expand the site. At the very least, there should be clear instructions on the Web site for how someone can request additional documents from the state.
Putting public contracts online is a good first step, but it remains just that. There is still a mighty long road to reform that officials in Harrisburg have to walk.
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