Pennsylvania Spending Transparency
From Sunshine Review
Contents |
[edit] Budget Transparency
Unfortunately, Pennsylvania is not yet transparent, despite testimony that it should be, [1][2] and pending legislation that would make it so.[3][4] During the 2009 legislative session, Senator Pat Browne sponsored Senate Bill 105, the proposed Taxpayer Transparency Act, which mandates creation of a website with a searchable budget database.[5] [6] The Bill is currently under the review of the House.[7]
Despite the absence of a statewide site, there are several places to obtain the line items in the Pennsylvania budget online. As part of the new state Open Records law, the Pennsylvania Treasurer launched a database of state contracts. The Commonwealth Foundation's policy report titled Government on a Diet:Spending Tips 2009 identifies for citizens how the state spends their money on certain projects.
[edit] State budget websites and analysis
- Main article: Pennsylvania state budget
The Pennsylvania Office of the Budget has a several documents on Governor Rendell's proposed 2009-10 budget, including the line items of his revised Pennsylvania state budget proposal.
The Commonwealth Foundation has made an Excel version of the revised and proposed Pennsylvania budget available online.
For comprehensive look at Pennsylvania state spending (which includes "special funds" and federal funds spent by the state), see the Governor's Executive Budget.
Each of the four legislative caucuses has a budget page with spreadsheets and analysis:
- Pennsylvania House Democratic Appropriations Committee
- Pennsylvania House Republican Appropriations Committee
- Pennsylvania Senate Republicans
- Pennsylvania Senate Democrats
The Commonwealth Foundation has a 2009 report identifying what they view as wasteful spending in the Pennsylvania budget as well as additional analysis of the Pennsylvania budget.
The Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center also offers analysis of Pennsylvania government spending.
[edit] Legislation
- Pennsylvania House Bill 1460 (aka "PennWatch") would create an online spending database. It was introduces in May 2009.[8]
- Pennsylvania Senate Bill 105 (the "Pennsylvania Taxpayer Transparency Act") would create an online spending database. It was passed by the Pennsylvania Senate June 1, 2009.[9]
- SB 107 Pennsylvania Governmental Salary Information Act This bill would require the state Treasurer to post salary information for all state employees on a public website.
- SB 101 Increasing Penalties for Sunshine Laws violations
- SB 109 Taxpayer-funded advertising disclosure
- SB 110 Improving Information in state plane logs
Legislative Cost Reduction Package includes House Bill's 1056, 1057, 1058, 1059, and 1061 was introduced on March 24th, 2009 by PA State Representative Schroder.:
- Pennsylvania House Bill 1056 would essentially return Pennsylvania back to a part-time legislature, saving taxpayers $12.8 million.
- Pennsylvania House Bill 1057 would would achieve additional savings through the elimination of cost of living increases, meritorious raises or other salary increases for members of the General Assembly. Representative Schroder says the wage freeze would save the state as much as $3.5 million this year alone.
- Pennsylvania House Bill 1058 would annually transfer unspent or uncommitted funding contained in legislative accounts to the state Treasury. These accounts currently contain surpluses of about $200 million.
- Pennsylvania House Bill 1059 would eliminate discretionary grants, also known as walking around money or WAMs. It is estimated this move would save taxpayers up to $600 million annually.
- Pennsylvania House Bill 1061 would change the pension system for state legislators who take office after Dec. 1, 2010, to a defined contribution plan. This investment plan would be structured to provide cost savings over the long term for lawmakers.
[edit] Support for creation of the database
The National Taxpayers Union supported the passage of Pennsylvania Senate Bill 1350 (2007), according to an open letter from May 8, 2008.[10]. SB 105 is the current version of that legislation.
[edit] Government tools
The following table is helpful in evaluating the level of transparency provided by a state spending and transparency database:
| State Database | Searchability | Grants | Contracts | Line Item Expenditures | Dept/Agency Budgets | Public Employee Salary | Exemption Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State Contracts Database |  |  | | | | | Contracts over $5,000[11] |
| Office of the Budget | | | | | | | PDF of the state budget |
| DCED Investment Tracker | | | | | | | DCED Grants only, few details |
[edit] Limitations and Suggestions
[edit] Economic Stimulus Transparency
- The Economic Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 designated $787 billion to be spent throughout the U.S. Of that $787 billion stimulus package, it is estimated that 69%, or over $541 billion, will be administered by state governments.[12]
- Pennsylvania will receive an estimated $16 billion.[13]
- The economic recovery website to show how legislators and government officials in Pennsylvania are spending Federal funds is available here.
[edit] Independent transparency sites
The Commonwealth Foundation has launched a transparency website project that focuses on school board negotiations. More information is available here.
[edit] Public employee salary information
- Teacher Salaries for 120,000 Teachers from Stop Teacher Strikes
- Superintendent Pay and Contracts from Altoona Mirror
[edit] External links
- Model transparency legislation from the American Legislative Exchange Council is available at this link.
[edit] References
- ↑ Commonwealth Foundation, "Testimony of Elizabeth Bryan to the Pennsylvania House Republican Policy Committee," June 18, 2009
- ↑ Center for Fiscal Accountability, "Testimony in support of House Bill 1460, the “Pennsylvania Web Accountability, Transparency and Contract Hub (PEnnWATCH) Act," June 18, 2009
- ↑ PennsylvaniaVotes.org, "2009 House Bill 1460 (Online database of state contracts and spending)"
- ↑ Pennsylvania General Assembly, Bill Status of SB 105 (2009)
- ↑ Text of Senate Bill 105
- ↑ Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, "Senate Republicans seek database of state spending," January 21, 2009
- ↑ Pennsylvania General Assembly, Bill Status of SB 105 (2009)
- ↑ Pennsylvania General Assembly Website
- ↑ Pennsylvania General Assembly Website
- ↑ National Taxpayers Union, "An Open Letter to the Pennsylvania State Senate: Taxpayers Support Spending Transparency Website (SB 1350)", May 6, 2008
- ↑ Contracts Database FAQ
- ↑ National Taxpayers Union, "A Letter to the Nation's Governors: Ensure Transparency and Accountability by Posting Stimulus Expenditures Online," March 10, 2009
- ↑ Wall Street Journal,"Stimulus Spending by State," April 23,2009
