February 26, 2009
Contact: Andy Pratt / (609) 292-5199Senator Joe Pennacchio (R-26), Transparency in Government
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.
“Delays in enacting this bill only hurt the public’s right to know. I first introduced this legislation while I was a member of the General Assembly, ” Pennacchio said. “It’s long past time to put it before the Legislature for debate and a vote.”
The legislation was crafted with the help of Kansas State Representative Kasha Kelley, who won passage of a law creating a transparency site in her state. Grover Norquist of Americans for Taxpayer Reform came to the State House last year to endorse S-445. Governor Corzine also expressed support for the bill during his State of the State Address earlier this year.
“I am grateful and pleased that the governor has endorsed the Transparency in Government Act. Now Senate President Dick Codey has signed on as the second primary sponsor. Senate Republican leader Tom Kean has been a co-sponsor of the bill since it was introduced. With such strong bipartisan support, this effort to help make the workings of government transparent to voters should be racing through the Legislature.”
The Corzine administration has reached out to him through State Comptroller Matthew Boxer, Pennacchio said. State computer experts are discussing the details of implementing the bill with Kansas counterparts who have set up a Transparency website, Pennacchio said.
“During these trying economic times, its is imperative taxpayers know exactly how and where their money is being spent in real time on a user-friendly website,” Pennacchio concluded.
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