In a letter to Gov. Rick Perry, State Rep. Hubert Vo (D-Houston) said a website should be created to track stimulus spending in order to ensure "the strictest level of accountability and transparency."
From Rep. Vo's letter:
... I am respectfully requesting that your office create an official state website to track the money as it comes in and to show exactly where it goes. Texas taxpayers have a right to strict accountability and deserve to have this one stop online resource.
As you know, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will direct funds to your office and other state agencies for distribution to local programs. A lot of data is expected to be made available in the next few weeks. Texas taxpayers should be able to count on a simple online resource to determine where that money is being spent. Which communities are benefiting? Which federal or state contractors are being hired? Which school districts, hospitals, or other organizations are receiving this assistance -- and how are they putting it to use?
This would be a great way to open up the process and let people see exactly where this money will end up. Whether Rick Perry will decide to do it, well, that's another story.
