The Open Books Movement

Washington Policy Center conference focuses on transparency, accountability

By Jason Mercier
Published on Sunday, June 01, 2008
ARTICLES

On April 15, tax day, more than 125 state and national policy experts gathered in Seattle for Washington Policy Center's Government Reform 2008 conference. This was the official kick-off event for WPC's new Center for Government Reform. State Policy Network co-sponsored the event.

Two interactive panels discussed budget and tax policy reform issues, as well as budget accountability, performance and the role of government. Among the highlights, Institute for Truth in Accounting president Sheila A. Weinberg discussed her group's efforts to enhance the credibility of public sector financial reporting by encouraging the issuance of understandable, reliable and relevant information.

Former U.S. Comptroller David Walker delivered the lunch keynote address to a packed room. He highlighted the looming fiscal crisis caused by government overspending and entitlement programs, and record-low levels of savings amongst citizens.

Following the public portion of the conference, representatives from 26 SPN organizations gathered to discuss government transparency efforts and strategies in their states. Expert panelists for the SPN transparency workshop included representatives from WPC, the American Legislative Exchange Council, Evergreen Freedom Foundation, Americans for Tax Reform, the Sam Adams Alliance, Mackinac Center and Microsoft. Panelists discussed how to take advantage of new technologies and initiatives to advance transparency in state spending, maximize performance audits and outreach.

On the issue of searchable budget websites, WPC provided attendees with details on how this reform was implemented in Washington state. The state recently adopted budget transparency legislation based on WPC's research. Senate Bill 6818 was passed by the legislature unanimously and signed April 1 by Gov. Gregoire.

To help advance the reform, the Center:

Published a white paper (before the legislative session) and op-eds
Met with stakeholders to explain the reform and how it could be enacted
Engaged the media around the state by meeting with editorial boards and reporters one-on-one
Monitored the legislative progress and testified when requested by lawmakers
Provided frequent updates to residents and media on any legislative developments
Worked with the state to effectively implement the new law after its passage

These steps were all done within the context of a 501(c)3 organization. This strategy will also be effective for advancing other policy priorities SPN groups have in their home states.

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