Money & Politics News

This year many U.S. states have launched what they call “Google Government” by using the Internet to make accessible detailed information about where tax dollars go and who gets government contracts and subsidies. A new report highlights how far Colorado lags behind this national trend.

In a growing number of other states, searchable public databases provide easy access to information about government expenditures by agency, category, or contractor. With a few clicks, taxpayers and journalists in some states can discover how much contractors lobbied or gave in campaign contributions. “Transparency is necessary to keep a watchful eye on the public purse,” noted Kirpal Singh, staff attorney at the Colorado Public Interest Research Group (COPIRG) which supports public transparency. He added, “You can’t hold elected officials accountable without this kind of information.” 

The report, released today by the Washington D.C.-based think tank, Good Jobs First, found that Colorado provides less information and access than a majority of states. The state fails to provide any information about financial and tax subsidies given to private entities. Overall, Colorado received a grade of “F,” even though its score was buoyed by lobbying disclosure rules created by Amendment 41.

"We found that many states have a long way to go, especially with regard to economic development subsidies, in fully disclosing their interactions with the private sector," said Philip Mattera, research director of Good Jobs First and principal author of the report. Payments to private contractors accounts for over 40 percent of state and local government spending across the nation, according to U.S. Department of Commerce reports. Company-specific subsidies and tax incentives have also grown in recent years. 

Among Colorado’s neighbors, Nebraska, Kansas and OklahomaNebraska, for instance, will make available a searchable list and detailed pricing information about all state contracts. They will similarly provide detailed information about economic development subsidies, including the location and promises about the amount of investment and employment these projects will create. each made commitments this year to post searchable web-based information about expenditures and contracts.

Earlier this year in Colorado, the Taxpayer Transparency Act (H.B.1164) sought to create a searchable website providing information on state grants, contracts, subcontracts, and tax credits. The bill failed to pass out of committee.

“With all Colorado’s rancorous debate about taxes and spending,” added Mr. Singh, “we owe it to ourselves to at least provide full information about where the money goes.”

The full report can be found at http://www.goodjobsfirst.org/news/article.cfm?id=375
 

Colorado grades can be found at http://www.goodjobsfirst.org/news/article.cfm?id=296