Senate holds hearing on searchable budget website proposals

The Senate Ways and Means Committee held a hearing today on two bipartisan proposals to create a Washington state searchable budget website for taxpayers (SB 6387 and SB 6818). Either proposal would be a step in the right direction. Among those testifying in favor was State Auditor Brian Sonntag.

Sonntag testified:

“Sometimes common sense and public policy do meet and this is one of those times . . . We’re talking about the public’s business and the public’s information and those things being subject to the public light of day. This is fundamental to good government and government accountability and I am proud to support this idea, this concept and lend my voice to it. It’s never wrong to open the doors and let people in and see what their government is doing.”

Along with the State Auditor, supporters of this reform include the Governor, Attorney General and many newspapers. With the bipartisan nature of the proposals and the number of heavy hitters in support, the prospects for a searchable budget website being enacted this session are looking good. The next step will be to see if the proposals survive cutoff for fiscal committees on February 12.

Click here to listen to today's testimony on the bills (first bills heard).