On Jan.1, 2009, new financial accountability rules went into effect that will make unions more transparent to the men and women they represent. The new T-1 form will apply to trusts when a majority of its funds are contributed by unions, or a majority of its governing board is appointed by one or more union groups. The question remains: Will a new administration in Washington, D.C., uphold the transparency efforts?
Will We Move Forward or Backward on Union Transparency?
Mackinac Center for Public Policy
By Paul Kersey
Posted on January 14, 2009
Tax Transparency Next Focus of Open Government Reforms
Heartland Institute
By John Barnes
Posted on December 31, 2008
Last August the Washington Policy Center released its "Taxation Disclosure Act ," calling for an online database of all tax rates in the state. The goal: to help residents learn about taxing districts. Some 1,783 taxing districts exist in Washington; a typical house can be in as many as 10. An online calculator would let residents see their tax burden and learn which elected officials are responsible for which parts of the tax burden.
Make It Transparent - Your Right to Know
Alabama Policy Institute
By Michael Ciamarra
Posted on December 1, 2008
Since the passage of the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006, a total of twelve states have passed similar legislation. In addition, seven governors have taken direct executive steps to create
comprehensive searchable websites for government expenditures. Alabama's recent overall grade of "F" on the UCLA School of Law and Pew Charitable Trusts "Grading State Disclosure 2008" report card should be a wake-up call to the legislature.
There are 639 local governments in Arizona. Without more openness, voters will remain uninformed and government unaccountable. This report makes recommendations for greater transparency of Arizona government beyond the state's establishment of an online database for transactions involved in state contracts. Among the recommendations for all levels of government are: an online database of all expenditures, performance metrics and debt information. 
Piercing the Fog: A Call for Greater Transparency in State and Local Government
Goldwater Institute
By Byron Schlomach
Posted on November 14, 2008
Rhode Island Votes, an interactive database, allows citizens to search, sort and track introduced bills, voting records and legislation. Bills are described in layman's terms. Searches can be done by category, bill number, sponsor and keywords. Individual voting records can be searched likewise, and Scorecards produced that evaluate legislators on pre-set voting criteria. To encourage citizen participation, email alerts and community message boards are available.
Rhode Island Votes
Ocean State Policy Research Institute
Posted on October 29, 2008
On Nov. 18 the Platte Institute brings together Nebraska State Treasurer Shane Osborn, who created NebraskaSpending.com; Charlyne Berens, Ph.D., to discuss government transparency, a key component in the creation of the state's Unicameral legislature; and Nicole Barrett, J.D., who leads the Institute's Transparecy Project. The luncheon guest speaker is ABC News correspondent and 20/20 co-anchor John Stossel. 
Nebraska Transparency Conference
Platte Institute for Economic Research
Posted on October 16, 2008
As part of its new Government Transparency Center, the Buckeye Institute has created OhioSunshine.org. This publicly editable wiki website is dedicated to open government, and will allow citizens to monitor how well state and local governments provide information to the public. 
OhioSunshine.org
Buckeye Institute for Public Policy Solutions
Posted on August 15, 2008
Last week Empire Center for New York State Policy launched their new transparency website, "SeeThroughNY." It has already garnered positive press coverage. The website features salaries of state government employees, teachers' union and superintendent contacts, legislative pork-spending, and operations expenditures by the state Assembly and Senate.
SeeThroughNY
Empire Center for New York State Policy
Posted on August 6, 2008
Januszkiewicz uses her past experience as Secretary of Department of Budget and Management in Maryland to develop 11 specific recommendations. If adopted, these proposals would instill greater fiscal discipline in Maryland's elected officials. The study includes a call for greater transparency and public involvement in the budgeting process. The recommendations are part of a larger FSF study of Maryland's budget process to be released in the fall. 
Avoiding Structural Deficits in Maryland: Recommendations for Reform
Free State Foundation
By Cecilia Januszkiewicz
Posted on August 1, 2008
New Mexico Votes was recently launched by the Rio Grande Foundation as part of its program to increase transparency and accountability in New Mexico state government. NMV, the first site to make legislative floor votes publicly available on the Internet, currently covers bills and votes from the 2008 legislative session. 
Tracking Legislative Votes in New Mexico
Rio Grande Foundation
Posted on July 29, 2008
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