FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 25, 2008
Contact: Michael DiResto, 225-342-7000

Commissioner Davis hails passage of bill to create online state spending database

Baton Rouge - Commissioner of Administration Angele Davis today released the following statement in response to final passage of SB 37 by the Louisiana Senate during the special legislative session on ethics:

'This bill gives us a great tool to make sure government is not only ethical but accountable, by empowering four million citizen auditors to monitor what the state spends and to judge whether it's wise, necessary, and achieving results. As a consequence of this openness and transparency, I fully hope that the investment we make today will bring a return of taxpayer savings throughout state government.'

On Friday, SB 37, with amendments, passed the Louisiana House of Representatives by a vote of 93-1. With today's Senate vote of 33-1, the bill now awaits the signature of Gov. Bobby Jindal.

Background: SB 37 will provide additional information about the workings of state government thus creating more transparency and accountability. SB 37 would not apply to the legislative or judicial branches.

- Requires the Commissioner to establish and maintain a website of state spending by January 1, 2009
- Excludes the judicial and legislative branches
- The website will also include nature and amount of appropriations for the executive branch
- Posts the salaries and total compensation of all statewide elected officials and cabinet-level positions
- Website will be updated monthly
- Budgeting, spending and performance information will all be posted online in an easy to use format
- Integrating Spending Data
  - SB 37 gives the Commissioner ability to collect needed information
  - Fiscal note reflects the cost of automating the transfer of data from agencies not on the state accounting system (such as Higher Education, DOTD, hospital system)