What are Minnesotans to make of a new 50-state survey that ranks Minnesota “dead last” on public disclosure of state contracts, but near the top in sharing information about economic development deals?
Tomorrow, the Star Tribune will run an op/ed I wrote in response to the survey findings. Here's more of the background.
Attending last month's EARN (Economic Analysis and Research Network) Conference in Minneapolis, I learned about a forthcoming survey of web-based government disclosure systems. Conducted by Good Jobs First, a non-profit, non-partisan research group based in Washington, DC, the survey looks at how transparent state governments are in making information available via the internet, which is the most powerful research tool available to average citizens.
The survey looked at the public availability of information about contracts, lobbying and economic development subsidies. It considered such factors as format and searchability of the data, plus the quality and completeness of the information. According to Good Jobs First:
The study found that Minnesota has a restricted electronic information-sharing system, unlike any Good Jobs First found in other states. The system is only accessible to state agency employees, not to the general public. Given that this system denies the public web-based access to the most basic information about how the state is spending money on contracts, Minnesota is rated last among the 50 states plus the District of Columbia.
We scored relatively high for disclosure on job subsidy deals, partly because of the comprehensive reporting required by law. Our lobbying disclosure was okay, but hardly Web 2.0.
Surveys like this never tell the whole story, but they can shine a light on best practices and abysmal ones.
As Dane Smith said in a release about the Minnesota findings, "Minnesota undoubtedly still deserves its reputation as a `good government’ state. But this poor ranking on one aspect of transparency does underscore our ongoing obligation to improve government accountability, especially if we are going to ask for more investment in vital areas such as transportation infrastructure and education.’’
Good Jobs First will release the full study in November, but they already have my attention. Next, the legislature?
Last session, the legislature passed, and Governor Pawlenty signed, the State Government Omnibus Bill, which contained a provision for a web-based contracts disclosure system. But no money was appropriated to create it.
— Charlie Quimby
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