HARRISBURG -- State Rep. Jim Christiana, R-Beaver, today unveiled legislation requiring information about government spending and contracts to be posted online in a searchable database.

He's calling his idea PennWATCH, which stands for Pennsylvania Web Accountability, Transparency and Contract Hub.

PennWATCH would allow people "to fully see where their hard earned money is going," said Minority Leader Sam Smith, R-Punxsutawney, who is co-sponsoring the measure.

Much of the information that would be provided on PennWATCH is available already in separate databases and paper files controlled by dozens of agencies and departments. Mr. Christiana wants to bring it all together.

"We need something seamless and very easy to use," Mr. Christiana said.