Bill would create database online to track state spending
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HARRISBURG -- Detailed state spending information soon could be a few clicks away.
The state House on Wednesday passed a bill that would make it easier to access public records of spending by all areas of state government.
The bill, which calls for creation of an online spending database called PennWATCH, now heads to the Senate. Leaders of that chamber have said they support the bill.
"We must do everything in this chamber with a level of fiscal responsibility of the highest degree, and we've done that in this bill," sponsor Jim Christiana, R-Beaver, said during floor debate Wednesday.
Although it passed unanimously, many Democrats said the bill falls short.
Rep. Curtis Thomas, D-Philadelphia, complained that the bill doesn't require disclosure of detailed spending records for publicly financed projects completed by non-governmental entities.
He said the bill is "devoid of the opportunity to make that kind of information available."
Mr. Thomas asked colleagues to view the legislation as a starting point for providing public access and accountability.
Tuesday, the Republican-controlled House rejected several Democratic amendments that would have expanded the bill. One amendment, for example, would have required the database to include spending records for capital projects.
One amendment that did pass requires that the database include information on salary, overtime and bonuses paid to all state employees.
The bill requires the Department of Treasury to create the database by December and to include links to contracts and audits, descriptions of programs, amounts of expenditures and recipients of state funds.
It could cost about $220,000 to implement the database, money that supporters say is well worth spending.
"Today, Pennsylvanians are a major step closer to being able to go online and learn exactly how their hard-earned tax dollars are being spent by their state government," Mr. Christiana said Wednesday. "The PennWATCH website will list all state government expenditures. Technology allows us to provide information to the people of Pennsylvania, and it is simply the right thing to do."
First Published February 10, 2011 12:08 am
