April 3, 2008

            LANSING − Attorney General Mike Cox today called on members of the state House of Representatives to stop delaying voting on the Track-Your-Taxes legislation − a bill that would publicize state spending online − which has been buried in committee for more than 220 days.

            The Track-Your-Taxes Bill (HB 5137), introduced by State Representative Jack Hoogendyk (R-Kalamazoo), would mandate the creation of a website that specifies how taxpayer money is being spent.

            "The House has had more than enough time to act on this bill; they should not wait another day. The public has a right to see how their tax dollars are being spent," Cox said. "I commend State Representative Jack Hoogendyk for drafting this legislation. Fourteen other states provide this information, as does the federal government − Michigan should too."

            Cox said transparency in public expenditures is the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and the Open Meetings Act (OMA) of the 21^st Century.

            "This is not a partisan issue; it's a good government issue," Cox said.

            Cox pointed to Missouri's website (www.mapyourtaxes.mo.gov), which he said Michigan should model itself after. The site details expenditures ranging from cleaning supplies for bathrooms to building leases.

            Earlier this year, Cox announced 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 18 pages of information detailing expenditures for equipment, rent, contracts, salaries, wages, insurance, and fringe benefits.

            "People work hard for their money, but they shouldn't have to work hard to learn how government spends their money," Cox said. "I think it's important to commend the legislators who support this issue and also call out those who have not publicly backed the Track-Your- Taxes legislation."

- 30 -