Baton Rouge – Commissioner of Administration Angele Davis today released the following statement in response to final passage of SB 37 by the Louisiana Senate during the special legislative session on ethics:
“This bill gives us a great tool to make sure government is not only ethical but accountable, by empowering four million citizen auditors to monitor what the state spends and to judge whether it’s wise, necessary, and achieving results.As a consequence of this openness and transparency, I fully hope that the investment we make today will bring a return of taxpayer savings throughout state government.”
On Friday, SB 37, with amendments, passed the Louisiana House of Representatives by a vote of 93-1.With today’s Senate vote of 33-1, the bill now awaits the signature of Gov. Bobby Jindal.
Background: SB 37 will provide additional information about the workings of state government thus creating more transparency and accountability.SB 37 would not apply to the legislative or judicial branches.
Requires the Commissioner to establish and maintain a website of state spending by January 1, 2009
Excludes the judicial and legislative branches
The website will also include nature and amount of appropriations for the executive branch
Posts the salaries and total compensation of all statewide elected officials and cabinet-level positions
Website will be updated monthly
Budgeting, spending and performance information will all be posted online in an easy to use format
Integrating Spending Data
SB 37 gives the Commissioner ability to collect needed information
Fiscal note reflects the cost of automating the transfer of data from agencies not on the state accounting system (such as Higher Education, DOTD, hospital system)
Governor Bobby Jindal did make transparency in government an important component of his special session on ethics.
Ditto.................... Written by .............yup
on 2/25/2008
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I agree that the delay to 2009 is frustrating, but at least there might be some legitimate need for time to design and implement this program in a usable format.
There is absolutely no reason to delay things like term limits, free meal limits, contribution reporting regulations, etc. Those delays are just to keep the status quo in place as long as possible and give the crooks time to figure out alternative methods to screw us. Written by trifull
on 2/25/2008
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Is this the right move? I think so. It is not whether it is a "Jindal move", a "Democratic move" or a "Republican move", rather "is this the right thing to do?" Again, until this move is disproved, I think it a most valuable addition to be included in our ethics repertoire. Written by Bobby Fisher
on 2/25/2008
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Wonderful......2009................ I can hardly wait.............. Idiots.... Written by ...tic toc tic toc tic toc....U know its true.
on 2/25/2008
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Hooray!!
Now we'll just have to found out where the goodies are hiding. Like Alario's earmark to Bob Odom's department a few years ago. Called it reforestation, but it was about $500,000 to landscape a private golf course. Written by trifull
on 2/25/2008
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