Oklahoma’s stimulus transparency gets a hard look from OFRG

President Obama stated the federal stimulus money would be transparent, and used to put people back to work. While the latter goal is still up for debate, Peter Rudy from Oklahomans for Responsible Government went in search of how his state’s portion of the money was spent.

Mr. Rudy had some simple questions, but it wasn’t simple trying to find the right person to answer them. He contacted the governor’s office, who directed him to the treasurer, who directed him to the auditor and comptroller, who ultimately directed him to the 12 agency heads in charge of dispensing $114 million of taxpayer dollars. Did you get all of that?

These were Peter’s questions:
1. Is that money just sitting in the Treasury waiting for the next fiscal year (starts July 1st) so it can be used?
2. Has any of the money been spent already? If so, on what?
3. If it has been spent, is it the governor that determines that or the agency head?
4. Was the legislature involved in any way (again meaning for any spending in the current fiscal year)?

To read about answers to these titillating questions, go check out the Oklahomans for Responsible Government blog:
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3

Here’s a hint of how it went…

[T]his little exercise shows how far we have to go for true transparency. I can go online with my checking account and see every check that I’ve written and where my debit card has been used and for how much. Yet I can’t find out how $114-million is spent by state agencies without specifically inquiring with each agency. I hope that the transparency and accountability for Oklahoma stimulus dollars is an ongoing process and will become more transparent. Because taxpayers deserve to have clear information presented. They shouldn’t be forced to hunt for it.