A transparency project launched Thursday by Gov. Bill Ritter would provide the public a peek at the state’s checkbook but threatens to usurp a further-reaching open-government bill traveling through the legislature.
The executive order requires “descriptions of revenues and expenditures” be posted online by January 2010.
Ritter’s database would include, for example, aggregated state credit-card expenditures instead of line-by-line statements.
Supporters of the order say it’s been in the works for months, but it was unveiled the day before the competing legislation was scheduled for a committee hearing.
Ritter joined other statewide officials, including Secretary of State Bernie Buescher, in lauding the move toward a more open government.
“The era in which government can say, ‘Trust me, we’ll spend your money,’ is gone,” Buescher said. “This is an important step.”
But the “important step” doesn’t cover as much ground as freshman Rep. B.J. Nikkel would like.
She’s pushing a bill that would make more details of state spending and income available online, but she has run into resistance from the governor’s office, she said.
“They won’t be providing detailed reports from departments . . . like I’m providing in my bill,” Nikkel, R-Loveland, said. “I think he’s going to continue to try to have the bill killed.”
Nikkel has postponed the hearing on House Bill 1288.
Jessica Fender: 303-954-1244 or jfender@denverpost.com
