Want to know how much Indiana Gov. Mike Pence’s office spent last year from postage accounts? Easy: $4,357.87.
Last year, for the first time ever, every state in the nation had a Web site detailing its expenditures, and Indiana’s was the most transparent, according to a new report. The Hoosier State earned a 94 grade from U.S. PIRG Education Fund’s fifth annual ranking of state spending Web sites. Seven others got As, 20 earned Bs, 10 earned Cs and 9 earned Ds. (See the end of this post for a state-by-state breakdown.) Idaho, Alaska and California earned failing grades of 44, 43 and 34, respectively.
Such sites track billions of dollars in contracts, subsidies and other state expenditures. All 50 offer so-called “checkbook level” spending details — those that identify each company from which goods and services are purchased. All but four let you search by recipient, while all but seven offer keyword search. Thirty eight also offer checkbook detail on subsidies intended for economic development. Other factors considered in grading included clarity about what was left out, the ability for bulk data downloads and whether information was available on quasi-public agency spending.
Read the full story from the Washington Post
