May 6, 2008

In a 94-0 vote this afternoon, the Ohio House of Representatives passed HB 420.  This legislation which is strongly supported by AFP – Ohio, is based on the “Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006”.  This bipartisan support for such legislation comes at a time when Ohio’s state government desperately needs some accountability and transparency.

The bill moves to the Senate and should be referred to a committee by the end of this week.  There is hope among the sponsors and supporters that this legislation can become law before the legislature’s summer break which begins in June. 

House Bill 420 is legislation to require information on state awards and earmarks, state real property management, state agency management, and state program effectiveness be collected and made available on a single searchable web site on-line.  Modeled after federal legislation, this type of open good-government public policy will help citizens monitor state government.