Don’t let the baby drown – Use transparency to drain the cesspool

I have not yet had the chance to review other states’ “transparency” web sites, but based on my experience in researching Massachusetts state and local government finances, accountability, etc. over the past year or so, there is no doubt in my mind that to even call any government site “partial transparency” is at best a cruel joke.

Over the past 8-9 months I have been trying to obtain more information from the Massachusetts State Comptroller’s office and they have now gone from stonewalling me to outright ignoring me, no longer responding to my phone messages or emails.  There is no one in government at any level that has an interest in actual transparency; it is an inherent conflict of their self-interest.

In my 13+ years of political activism I consistently hear from people that the things most important to them that government provides are local aid, education, public safety and transportation infrastructure like roads, bridges, etc.  Those are what many consider “core functions” of government, and yet in Massachusetts they account for just over 20% of total state spending.  That is a factoid that, while not all that hard to deduce, is not spoken about by our state government.

Similar “surprises” exist at the municipal level, though each city and town has its own pathology.

Whenever anyone calls for cutting government we immediately see threats of reductions in the 20% of core services.  That is no accident.  In fact, there is no shortage of politicians in the legislature and right up through current and former governors who have made clear that any reductions will deeply and severely impact those core services, and that the cuts will be made as painful as possible.

Some argue that you shouldn’t throw the baby out with the bathwater, but that is an inappropriate metaphor.  Trying to save a baby that’s drowning in a cesspool would more accurately depict the relative proportions and the murkiness of the situation.  Only transparency can save the baby.

Does transparency have to cost a lot?  Nope, not at all.  Government already has the data and the technical potential to bring transparency about quickly and cheaply.  Assuming no legal roadblocks, I could do it for the state government with a team of 10 people in about 6 months and a modest budget.  Consider then that between the Massachusetts State Auditor’s Office and the Comptroller’s office there are over 450 employees according to the FY2009 limited data available online.  Over 450 employees with millions of dollars in payroll and other expenses…and no transparency.

The only statewide office which could bring transparency to the people would be the State Auditor, and Joe DeNucci has proven in his nearly 22 years in office that transparency is not a priority.  The State Auditor is a statewide constitutional officeholder elected by the people.

It’s time for an independent audit of our government by someone who has the interests of the citizens in mind and not those of special interests.  It’s time for an independent State Auditor.