Why be transparent? More influence for less money.
The Shreveport Times printed an op-ed from Ernest LeBlanc Jr., director of the Louisiana Budget Project, applauding Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal for his work on new transparency legislation. The piece also did a good job spelling out why transparency is important to all citizens.
From the article:
The budget is one part of state government that can seem overwhelming and hard to understand, but state spending directly affects the present and future of each Louisianan.
# State spending affects teacher’s pay raises. Quality teachers provide quality education for our students, who will take what they learn in the classroom into their future as the leaders of our state.
# State spending affects health care access for low- and moderate-income families, who have a better chance of lifting themselves out of poverty if they are healthy.
# State spending affects work force development, and a strong work force attracts business and industry that in turn provides jobs and boosts our economy.
LeBlanc also mentions that citizens that know and understand government can have more influence in policymaking. More influence for less of my tax dollars? That’s change all taxpayers can believe in.
