We recently criticized the state for creating a hopelessly complex information maze that keeps unsuspecting Texans in the dark, and enables local officials to further fuel their borrowing addiction.
The State Comptroller’s office, headed by transparency champion Susan Combs, is leading the movement to bring government’s darkest secrets out of the shadows. Last year, she issued a series of excellent reports highlighting Texas’ largely unknown fiscal epidemic that has burdened us with the second-highest per capita debt in the nation.
Last week, the Comptroller’s office launched Tell the Truth Texas, an interactive Web page where Texans can easily view information on the November 5th bond proposals being issued by cities, school districts, counties and special purpose districts across the state.
The primary season is quickly approaching. Voters will soon be inundated with tired campaign rhetoric from politicians working hard to sweep their voting records under the rug. It may be hard to believe, but one elected official (and her staff) may have done more to advance transparency in government than the entire Republican caucus this session.
A similar effort to increase transparency for taxpayers was killed by squishy House Republicans in the 83rd session.
Facts are stubborn things; an inconvenience some politicians on both sides hope to avoid during their rosy re-election campaigns.
We already know why local elections matter. Thanks to Susan Combs, citizens across the state now have the resources needed to make informed electoral decisions.
It’s time we take back our governing boards, and consign the current fiscal train wreck to the dust-bin of history.
