Legislation to give public details on government spending stalls

The Oakland Press covered Sen. Pappageorge's efforts to increase openness and transparency in government:

By CHARLES CRUMM
Of The Oakland Press

A year ago on March 17, during Sunshine Week, Ottawa County Republican Wayne Kuipers introduced legislation to establish a Web site searchable by the public that details all Michigan state government spending.

As Sunshine Week approaches March 14-20 this year, the legislation languishes in the state Senate Appropriations Committee.

Among the sponsors is Sen. John Pappageorge, R-Troy, who would like to see some action as the state again struggles to eliminate massive projected deficits.



“We want to get that thing hopefully by the end of this month,” Pappageorge said Wednesday. “To me, it’s really important.

“The basis for coming to an agreement and for satisfying constituent concerns is to have a common set of facts as to what the situation is,” Pappageorge said. “For me, it’s an issue of trust and believability in the government because we’re laying out everything for them to look.”

Sunshine Week occurs in mid-March each year and coincides with James Madison’s birthday and National Freedom of Information Day on March 16.

The week promotes transparency and openness in government.

The legislation pending in the Senate would require state agencies to provide to the Department of Management and Budget the name and location of the entity receiving state funds, the amount, the type of transaction, the funding agency and a description of the expense.

It also would require the state to operate a Web site that can be searched by the public at no cost.

Holding up its passage, says Pappageorge, are issues concerning cost and information that could be considered confidential.

“It’s not that we just let it die,” Pappageorge said. “What’s happened is I’ve had meetings with the IT guys about how to do it and the cost of it, and trying to find a balance between cost and getting as much information out there as possible without breaking the bank.”

There are no cost estimates associated with the legislation. Pappageorge said some say it can be done for little expense while others say the initiative will cost a lot of money.