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Editorial: Time for state, local 'Google governments'

Examiner

December 28, 2006

WASHINGTON - Perhaps the most significant reform of 2006 was passage of the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act co-sponsored by Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., and Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill. The Examiner was among the most vigorous supporters of this legislation that directs the U.S. Office of Management and Budget to establish a public, searchable, Google-like database of federal spending.

Coburn-Obama became law despite opposition from entrenched Old Bulls in the U.S. Senate because of the obvious desirability of making it possible for every citizen with an Internet connection to be a few mouse clicks away from knowing how their federal tax dollars are being spent, subject only to reasonable exceptions for things like national security and law enforcement. The federal spending database should come on line in 2009.

Now the Alexandria Taxpayers United is encouraging that city’s leaders to do the same thing for Alexandria city government: “Please consider creating a ‘Google government’ Web site that will allow Alexandrians easy access to information on grant and contract spending. I look forward to working with you on this important proposal,” said ATU’s president, Bud Miller, in a Dec. 19 letter to the Alexandria City Council.

Miller is right. Alexandria taxpayers should have easy access to information about how local officials are spending their nearly $500 million hard-earned tax dollars each year. As part of establishing the Alexandria City Government Contracts and Grants Database, officials should also put the local government’s check register online. It ought to be as easy for residents to check their local government’s checking account balances as it is to check their personal bank accounts.

Such measures are part of the growing Sunlight Movement that is attracting advocates from across the entire political spectrum and mobilizing public support for increased transparency and accountability in government at all levels. As former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis said, “sunshine is the best disinfectant.”

The Sunlight Movement recognizes that there is no excuse not to have “Google government,” given the relative technological ease afforded by the Internet in putting government documents, accounts and other measures online. This applies to the city of Alexandria as much as it does to governments in Arlington County, Fairfax County, Montgomery County, Prince George’s County, Prince William County, the city of Rockville, the District of Columbia and all other jurisdictions in our region that have a hand in residents’ wallets.

The Examiner will continue to be an enthusiastic advocate for such measures and we encourage residents to join us in asking all local, regional and state officials when they will see Google government measures taking effect. So how about it, members of the Alexandria City Council? How do you answer Bud Miller and all other Alexandrians?