March 19, 2008

            LANSING − Attorney General Mike Cox celebrated Sunshine Week by calling on state legislators and the Governor to move quickly to pass and sign legislation creating a free, publicly searchable database listing all state government expenditures, including all contracts and grants.

            "The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and the Open Meetings Act (OMA) allow citizens to access records and the proceedings of government," Cox said. "Transparency in public expenditures is the FOIA and OMA of the 21^st Century. We need more sunshine in how Michigan's tax dollars are being spent."

            Earlier this year, Cox announced that his office was the first in state government to voluntarily provide information on how tax dollars are spent. The new page on his website (www.michigan.gov/ag), titled "Track Your Taxes," lists 15 pages of information detailing expenditures for equipment, rent, contracts, salaries, wages, insurance and fringe benefits. The category "Service Contracts" provides information on every single contract, including the name of the vendor, the type of service being provided and the amount of each contract.

            "This is the ultimate in consumer protection," Cox said.

            "I commend State Representative Jack Hoogendyk for his Management and Budget Act that mandates the creation of a website providing information on state expenditures. And I applaud House Republicans for their strong support of this common sense reform to let the sun shine in on all state government expenditures," said Cox. "Twelve other states provide this information. So does the federal government. We should, too."

            "Michigan families and citizens work hard for every single paycheck," Cox said. "Michigan state government is a $44 billion enterprise. Families deserve to know where their tax dollars are going and how those dollars are being spent."

            "This is not a partisan issue. It's a good government issue," Cox concluded. "Sunshine Week is the time to take action on transparency and provide full disclosure in government spending to taxpayers."

- 30 -