The Legislative Finance Committee has decided to make available on the Internet years of data about who requested funding that ended up in the state’s so-called “junior budget” bill.
It’s a smart move toward increased transparency at a time when many accuse the state Senate of blocking ethics-reform and transparency proposals. In light of recent controversies over rugby and trash-can funding, it’s a way for the public to know who originated funding requests, which could pressure lawmakers to act more ethically.
The move comes at the direction of Sen. John Arthur Smith, D-Deming and chair of the LFC. The last four years of appropriations requested by senators and the governor to be included in the junior budget are included on the site, which you can find by clicking here. Information about appropriations that originated in the House aren’t included, said LFC Director David Abbey, because Smith “didn’t want to speak for the House.”
“We’re trying to adopt a policy of being more open,” Abbey said. “It’s about transparency and disclosure.”
The move comes as the LFC is beginning to discuss next year’s budget. Kathy Fernandez, LFC deputy director, said the information provided on the Web site is “probably 95 percent accurate.” She said there are a few instances where changes were made to the bill but not reported to staffers who would have updated the spreadsheets.
Abbey said the LFC felt confident enough in the accuracy of the spreadsheets to post them on the Internet.