Maryland Ranks 27th in Transparency, Receives C+ Grade

US PIRG has just released their annual report on states' transparency, Following the Money: How the 50 States Rate on Providing Online Access to Government Spending Data. You can read the entire report here. What are the findings?

This year’s report found that 46 states now provide an online database of government expenditures with “checkbook-level” detail, a major increase from 32 states two years ago. Twenty nine state transparency websites now provide information on government expenditures through tax code deductions, exemptions and credits – up from eight states two years ago.

“Citizens expect information to be at their fingertips the way they can view their cell phone minutes or the location of a package. Putting spending information online helps hold government accountable and allows taxpayers to see where the money goes.” said Phineas Baxendall, Senior Analyst for Tax and Budget Policy at US PIRG.

States that have created or improved their online transparency have typically done so with little upfront cost. In fact, states with top-flight transparency websites actually save money for taxpayers, while also restoring public confidence in government, and preventing misspending and pay-to-play contracts.

“It is important to continually strive to improve the state's transparency website because it shines a light on government spending,” said Baxandall. “Given our budget problems, American taxpayers need to be able to follow the money.”

And what about Maryland?

Maryland ranked 27th of the 50 states in transparency, earning a C+ grade and a score of 75. Who ranked higher? Virginia. Louisiana. Mississippi. Texas.

Here is our ask: Marylanders want Checkbook Online.