GASPing for Openness in Government

In what probably will be one of his last major initiatives while in office, Hamilton County Commissioner Pat DeWine unveiled a proposal today to create a detailed database on the Internet so residents can monitor and track all county spending.

DeWine dubbed the proposal the Government Accountability in Spending Program — or GASP. If approved by the county commission, the Web site would list all county expenditures in an easily searchable database including purchase orders, vouchers, grants, contracts and sub-contracts.

“It is a tool designed to give the citizens the ability to hold their government more accountable and make their government more transparent,” DeWine said.

The proposal was developed in conjunction with Americans for Tax Reform (ATR), which believes such tools allow citizens to become “fiscal watchdogs” and can help crack down on governmental fraud and waste. At least 20 state governments have begun or are considering similar databases; the federal government’s database went online in December.

If approved by commissioners, Hamilton County would be the first county government to create such a Web site, ATR representatives said.

“In states where it’s already used, it’s changed the tone of budget negotiations,” said Sandra Fabry, ATR’s state government affairs manager.

The federal government’s version of GASP resulted from a bill sponsored by Barack Obama, the Illinois senator seeking the Democratic presidential nomination, and U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.)

Noting the bipartisan support, Fabry said, “It’s simply not a right/left issue, it’s a right/wrong issue.”

Hamilton County’s proposal would cost less than $10,000 to implement and the city of Milwaukee — which already has such a database — has agreed to assist with the start-up, DeWine said. “Ultimately, this is something that will save the county money,” he added.

DeWine, a Republican who isn’t seeking re-election, wants the county commission to vote on the proposal in the next few weeks and get the spending by commissioners and the administration online by July, with a goal of having information about all county departments and agencies available by year’s end.

The proposal appears to have enough votes for passage as DeWine’s fellow commissioner, Democrat David Pepper, has expressed his preliminary support pending more review.

“It sounds good to me,” Pepper said. “I’ve been pushing hard to find out what all these types of details on expenses are and it’s been hard to get. This would be a great way to find potential savings in the budget.”

Among those attending DeWine’s press conference this morning to announce the proposal were Cincinnati City Councilman Chris Monzel, Hamilton County Clerk of Courts Greg Hartmann, and representatives from the local Green Party and the Coalition Opposed to Additional Spending and Taxes.

Hartmann is campaigning to replace DeWine on the county commission later this year after DeWine decided to seek a Hamilton County Common Pleas Court judgeship.

— Kevin Osborne

Comments

[Sparky Anderson]

This sounds like exactly the kind of honesty and openness that the city of Cincinnati could use. I hope they follow the county's lead on this issue.

Imagine, honest open government. Oh the humanity of it all!

[CincyCapell]

P-P-P-Pathetic P-P-P-P-Pattycakes will be gone soon, Good riddance.

COAST IS TOAST.

[onetinsoldier]

Transparent government? From the DeWhine/Heimlich team. LOL. DeWhine states on WLW today that he talked to Pepper on the phone about his plan. The problem is, that's a quorum and wasn't in the public meeting, so his little attempt for transparency violated the law regarding closed meetings.

Before you become a judge -DeWhine - you might want to learn the law for the office you've held for 3.5 years inthe county, 8 years on council --- or are you just above the law?

Pepper - the next time he calls and wants to talk county business, invite him to put it on the agenda instead of in a press release FIRST - you were played for the media hype. Hang up.

[HamburgerHill]

And CincyCapell rears his ugly head again. If he's against someone or something then I'm for it.

Also onetinsoldier, The Commissioners are not allowed to discuss items before the Commission without a public meeting. This item, however, has never been introduced. Maybe you should learn the law before you go spouting off about it.

[CincyCapell]

Blue Ash Log Cabin Republican Jeff Capell spouts off yet again.

[CincyMatusak]

Greg Matusak, you seem to be obsessed with homosexuality. Is there something you want to tell us?