State's New Portal: Politics, Not Transparency
STATE'S NEW PORTAL: POLITICS, NOT TRANSPARENCY
Auditor of State candidate Sam Locke responded to the initial release of Indiana’s new transparency portal last week with praise and skepticism. While the site will allow Hoosiers to view an extremely basic breakdown of state revenue, expenditures (eventually) and the allocation of stimulus dollars it does not go far enough in showing Hoosiers where their tax dollars are being spent.
With the exception of a few new dynamic graphs and colorful spending charts, most of the data has previously been available on other State websites. Additionally, the site boasts budget information as passed by the legislature in 2009, not as it exists after the massive budget cuts imposed by Governor Mitch Daniels. The site also gives no mention to where tax dollars go after they're allocated to the controversial 'job incentives' sector the Indiana Economic Development Corporation and promises additional features will “eventually” be added, without providing a concrete implementation timeline.
State Auditor Tim Berry, calls the new website a "one stop portal" but users still must follow several external links to see many pieces of information offered by the site. It could easily become unclear as to which agency is responsible for particular content and analysis.
Since the technology allowing the site to function has been available for months, Locke thinks the timing of the portal’s release reeks of politics. Locke said of the portal, "This was a calculated political move meant to pass-off incomplete work as good government to Indiana taxpayers. We will do better." Locke continued, “My opponent has had nearly twelve years as a State Official to show leadership in financial transparency yet chose to do so two months before the toughest electoral challenge of his career. Hoosiers will agree that his efforts, while a good start, are ‘too little, too late.’”
Locke added, "While I am in complete agreement that Hoosiers need to know where their tax dollars are going, it needs to be done in a more complete manner that makes information, not politics, the top priority. Transparency is about more than just dollars and cents – the portal must go further in providing raw data and independent analysis as to where Indiana is choosing to spend its money.”
In addition to providing more proactive and transparent information regarding the State’s finances, Locke also pledges to implement innovative business practices to find additional tax savings for Hoosiers and actively call-out wasteful spending by state agencies. While these efforts won’t bridge the entire budget gap, they will help legislators fund priorities that benefit our struggling economy – job creation, economic stimulus, and an investment in future generations of Hoosiers.
Auditor of State candidate Sam Locke responded to the initial release of Indiana’s new transparency portal last week with praise and skepticism. While the site will allow Hoosiers to view an extremely basic breakdown of state revenue, expenditures (eventually) and the allocation of stimulus dollars it does not go far enough in showing Hoosiers where their tax dollars are being spent.
With the exception of a few new dynamic graphs and colorful spending charts, most of the data has previously been available on other State websites. Additionally, the site boasts budget information as passed by the legislature in 2009, not as it exists after the massive budget cuts imposed by Governor Mitch Daniels. The site also gives no mention to where tax dollars go after they're allocated to the controversial 'job incentives' sector the Indiana Economic Development Corporation and promises additional features will “eventually” be added, without providing a concrete implementation timeline.
State Auditor Tim Berry, calls the new website a "one stop portal" but users still must follow several external links to see many pieces of information offered by the site. It could easily become unclear as to which agency is responsible for particular content and analysis.
Since the technology allowing the site to function has been available for months, Locke thinks the timing of the portal’s release reeks of politics. Locke said of the portal, "This was a calculated political move meant to pass-off incomplete work as good government to Indiana taxpayers. We will do better." Locke continued, “My opponent has had nearly twelve years as a State Official to show leadership in financial transparency yet chose to do so two months before the toughest electoral challenge of his career. Hoosiers will agree that his efforts, while a good start, are ‘too little, too late.’”
Locke added, "While I am in complete agreement that Hoosiers need to know where their tax dollars are going, it needs to be done in a more complete manner that makes information, not politics, the top priority. Transparency is about more than just dollars and cents – the portal must go further in providing raw data and independent analysis as to where Indiana is choosing to spend its money.”
In addition to providing more proactive and transparent information regarding the State’s finances, Locke also pledges to implement innovative business practices to find additional tax savings for Hoosiers and actively call-out wasteful spending by state agencies. While these efforts won’t bridge the entire budget gap, they will help legislators fund priorities that benefit our struggling economy – job creation, economic stimulus, and an investment in future generations of Hoosiers.
For more information on the campaign, please visit www.lockeforauditor.com.
Contact Information:
(812) 455-7816
(812) 455-7816
(812) 322-7186
jason@lockeforindiana.com
jason@lockeforindiana.com
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