Senator Joe Pennacchio (R-26), sponsor of S-445, discussing The Transparency in Government Act. Pennacchio is joined by Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean (R-21) and Grover Norquist, President of Americans for Tax Reform.
A full quality version of the video can be downloaded from www.senatenj.com/uploads/transparency.wmv.
Update - January 2010
The Transparency in Government Act has been reintroduced for the 2010-2011 legislative session. The legislation, formerly S-445 in the 2008-2009 session, has been designated S-708 in the current session.
Senator Repeats Call for Transparency in Government Act
Senator Joe Pennacchio (R-Morris/Passaic) was disgusted, but not surprised by reports that appointees of the Corzine administration refused to tell the Record newspaper of Hackensack how much money state entities make from fees charged by Ticketmaster.
Senator Joseph Pennacchio, R-Morris and Passaic, expressed disappointment that discussions of the Pennacchio-Codey “Transparency in Government Act” in the State Government Committee have been postponed. The bill, which will create a website where all state financial information and other data can be easily and quickly accessed by the public, was scheduled for discussion in the committee today.
Cigarette Lighters that Cost $622 (Each!) for Sex Offenders and $2k for Hockey Equipment for State Prisons
In our continuing effort to demonstrate the need for the Transparency in Government Act, which would require all New Jersey government spending to be made available and searchable on an easy to use public website, here is Part 2 of our series, Your Tax $$$ at Work? In this series, we present examples of how government bureaucracy hides the wasteful spending of taxpayer funds.
Your Tax $$$ at Work? Part 2 – Expensive Purchases for Sex Offenders and State Prisoners
Attached are actual receipts showing that the New Jersey Department of Corrections paid nearly $4,000 to purchase six special wall mounted cigarette lighters for sex offenders incarcerated at the Avenel Diagnostic Center.
Senator Joe Pennacchio, a member of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, called again on the Corzine Administration to move quickly to implement the Transparency in Government Act. The legislation would require that all government projects and expenditures be released to a website in real time.
Reimbursing State Banking Employees for Classes on Earth Science and Transportation Employees for Classes on Mummies
In an effort to demonstrate the need for the Transparency in Government Act, which would require all New Jersey government spending to be made available and searchable on an easy to use public website, we have put together a new series called “Your Tax $$$ at Work?”
The public, armed with this tool, would provide additional oversight to our budgetary process.
Editorial by Senator Joe Pennacchio, published in The Record on Wedenesday, February 11, 2009
THOMAS Jefferson said that public expenditures should be “as clear and intelligible as a merchant’s books” so that “any man of any mind” can “comprehend them, investigate abuses and consequently control them.”
Republicans Call on Corzine to Do the Same
During a speech today, President-Elect Barack Obama stated his support for greater transparency of government spending by posting their financial transactions online. Senator Joe Pennacchio (R-Morris/Passaic) introduced legislation last year (Senate Bill 445) that would create a user-friendly Web site enabling all New Jersey residents to see how their state tax dollars are being spent.
Senator Joe Pennacchio (R-26), sponsor of S-445, discussing The Transparency in Government Act. Pennacchio is joined by Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean (R-21) and Grover Norquist, President of Americans for Tax Reform.
A full quality version of the video can be downloaded from www.senatenj.com/uploads/transparency.wmv.
The Transparency in Government Act would create a user-friendly Web site to empower New Jersey citizens with the ability to ensure accountability for every state tax dollar. Senator Joe Pennacchio, R-District 26, the primary sponsor of the bill, is urging the state to create an easy-to-use site that displays the State’s annual revenues, expenditures and total debt as well as other current and historical information vital to monitoring government.
Support the “Transparency in Government Act” by signing our petition below.
