This Session's best idea (and bill) yet

It's amazing but there is finally a bill that is useful to Maryland Citizens that looks like it may actually pass during this lightweight Session. The bill would create a database linked website that would allow Marylanders to discover what the State government is spending our money on. The bill has gathered support from both sides and is very likely to pass. Full Sun article at this link Click, browse, follow the money

I can personally attest to the inability to find budget documents in a format that would allow analysis and accountability. Let's say you wanted to (as I did for a blog post) determine how State revenue has grown over the past ten years and plot that along with population growth to discover if government growth is outpacing population growth? Right now you would have to download a series of PDF documents , enter all the numbers manually in a spreadsheet program and generate the charts.

Not to mention that State government websites, including the General Assembly's are dreadfully designed, poorly implemented and totally divergent in functionality across agencies/departments. Communicating with citizens has never been easier nor as inexpensive (using the web) yet this bill is the first attempt to create a user friendly interface on a State Government website. Case in point, try to find the aforementioned bill at the General Assembly website! Please let me know if you do.