May 27, 2009

New Laws Signed by Governor Riley Make Government More Transparent and Open

DECATUR - Governor Bob Riley visited Decatur Wednesday to celebrate the passage of two new laws that make Alabama’s government and elections process more transparent.

The laws, sponsored in the legislative session by two north Alabama lawmakers - Senator Arthur Orr and Representative Mike Ball - establish a website detailing state spending and require unopposed candidates for office to file campaign finance reports.

“Every time we make government more transparent, we make it more honest and accountable to the people it serves,” said Governor Riley. “Every time we open up the books and tell taxpayers exactly how their hard-earned dollars are being spent, we make it much harder for politicians to waste them or spend them dishonestly.”

The spending website law tracks an executive order Governor Riley signed in February that created www.open.alabama.gov. On that website, visitors can find the state’s checkbook online with details of who is receiving funds, the date of the expenditure, the agency spending the money and the funding source. The website also includes a list of all active statewide contracts and awarded bids, a database of all leases held by state departments, and links to campaign finance reports.

The website has been online since February 27 and will be searchable by October 1.

“This new law requires the website to be maintained and publicly accessible no matter who sits in the governor’s chair. It guarantees that even after I’m gone and my executive order has expired, the state’s checkbook will remain online for all to see,” Governor Riley said.

The second bill the Governor signed requires candidates who run unopposed for public office to file campaign finance reports just as candidates who have opposition do.

These new disclosure laws come on the heels of another new law signed by Governor Riley last week that requires governors to report details of state aircraft use and spending from the Governor’s Contingency Fund. Since he came into office in 2003, Governor Riley has voluntarily posted on the Internet such information. Like the spending website law, this law requires future governors to follow Governor Riley’s practice of disclosing information.

The three new laws help usher in an “era of openness and accountability in Alabama,” said Governor Riley, though he said more reforms like banning PAC-to-PAC transfers and anti-corruption legislation are still needed.

“If we value honesty and accountability in government, then we must make sure government always operates out in the open,” said Governor Riley.