Shining Light on Government
Earlier in March, newspapers and other media outlets marked Sunshine Week, something not many people outside of a newsroom likely knew happened.
Sunshine Week is an initiative to make the public aware of the importance of open government. When the people know what their government is up to, they are part of an informed society. It is a society made up of people who can adequately discuss the issues and question their representatives holding elected office, whether it be a local school board member or a United States Senator, and everyone in between.
We live in an age of rapidly disseminated, nearly instant information, thanks to technology. Though I agree this is wonderful in terms of getting information to large groups of people, there is, as you know, some adverse side effects. Information can be twisted to fit a narrative. Lies can be given as fact and believed before the truth can catch up.
But, as our second president, John Adams, said, “Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations or the dictates of our passions, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence.”
The quickest way to greater transparency of the facts is for government to be even more open to those it represents. To this end, I strive to be as transparent as possible and post my monthly expenses to my website, RepGrove.com.
Sadly, Pennsylvania hasn’t received high marks in this department, especially when it comes to informing residents about how their tax dollars are being spent. Pennsylvania has taken steps toward improving fiscal transparency and I want to build on it and make sure future Pennsylvanians have access to this important information.
About a year ago, I told you about my legislation to enhance state Treasurer Joe Torsella’s Transparency Portal website and codify the program so it’s available to taxpayers for decades to come. This online tool allows anyone with internet access to see an up-to-date General Fund cash balance, expenditures and state investments.
My enhancement to the system would be the creation of the Commonwealth Checkbook, a user-friendly online ledger to show the public how and where their tax dollars are spent. The bill would also require state agencies to post budget requests online.
Unfortunately, the bill died in the Senate last session, despite passing the House 178-12. Fear not, I will reintroduce the legislation this session.
In addition to this important transparency legislation, I introduced
House Bill 93 to move the state from an incremental budget process to a zero-based and performance-based model. Under my proposed method of budgeting, agencies would need to submit budget requests to the governor using outcome-based budgeting.
By increasing the amount of available information, the new budget process would increase transparency and accountability with public funds, giving the public greater oversight on how their money is spent. This greater oversight would also allow lawmakers to improve the state’s overall fiscal house, which could produce savings for taxpayers.
When government is more open and transparent, the people win. They not only know what their elected officials are doing, but there’s also the benefit of cost savings for taxpayers.
A report issued last summer found municipal borrowing costs increased in media markets where newspapers shuttered. This increase in costs is attributed to the lack of oversight by the press to hold local elected officials accountable. Fortunately, York enjoys the presence of two newspapers.
But with newsrooms across the country being scaled back, it must fall on the people to hold their governments accountable, and for government to be even more transparent so the people can find the information they deserve.
196th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Greg Gross
717.260.6374
ggross@pahousegop.com
RepGrove.com /
Facebook.com/RepSethGrove