Governor Sanford ordered last summer that all agencies under his cabinet to post each and every financial expenditure on the internet. I agree with Gov. Sanford that South Carolinians are entitled to full and complete information regarding how their hard-earned tax dollars are spent by government. Shining the light on state government spending will lead to more accountability to the taxpayers of South Carolina.
To my disappointment, we have a Freedom of Information (FOI) system that is not free, but is in bondage. If you want information, you must submit written requests and in most cases spend more of your money to obtain records you paid for in the first place. The FOI system is backwards, and I intend to reverse the process.I will file legislation to require that all other state agencies, commissions, school boards and municipalities put their spending records online. Checking account registers, petty cash expenditures and credit card transactions will be posted on the internet for anyone to review. Please join me in demanding that government actually report to those it serves and who actually pay for it—the taxpayer.
Simply put, it’s your money and it’s your information. While you work hard to earn it, you should not be required to work hard to see how it’s spent.There is an interesting debate on this concept on the Anderson Independent’s Cocklebur blog
Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina
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