Open Government

WPC's Center for Government Reform's mission is to partner with stakeholders and citizens to work toward a government focused on its core functions while improving its transparency, accountability, performance, and effectiveness for taxpayers.

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What's New

Tax preference review bill on House agenda tomorrow

April 18, 2013 in Blog

Not to be lost on tomorrow's House Finance Committee agenda is SB 5843 (tax preference review). The Senate version of the bill was unanimously approved back on March 7. After the Senate approved the bill WPC encouraged the House to consider also:

Public gets chance to weigh in on House tax increase package tomorrow

April 18, 2013 in Blog

Though we have serious concerns about the impact of the House Democrat's $1.3 billion tax increase proposal on the state's economy and jobs (nearly 10,000 private sector jobs could be lost), at least the public will actually have a chance to weigh in on the proposal.

Senate considers revenue forecast reform

April 18, 2013 in Blog

With a special session all but guaranteed for the Legislature to finish its work on the 2013-15 budget, a simple bill being considered by the Senate Ways and Means Committee today could have a fundamental impact on future budget debates.

Introduced on Monday and heard for a public hearing on Tuesday, SB 5910 would move up the state's March revenue forecast to February in long sessions. The bill is scheduled for executive action in the Senate today. 

Budget negotiations begin in earnest

April 16, 2013 in Blog

Last Friday the House approved its 2013-15 state operating budget proposal on a party-line 54-43 vote. The only lawmaker to cross-party lines was Rep. Stonier (D) who voted against the budget saying:

Title-only bills skirt constitution

April 16, 2013 in In the News
The Olympian
Source: 
The Olympian
Date: 
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Link: 
http://www.theolympian.com/2013/04/16/2507255/title-only-bills-skirt-constitution.html

Olympian calls for more legislative transparency

April 16, 2013 in Blog

Looks like editors at The Olympian decided to declare April 16 as "Legislative Transparency Day." The capital city newspaper ran two editorials today highlighting our recommendations to improve the public's access to the legislative process.