Issue Position: Good Government Overhaul Proposals

Issue Position

1. Public Information Inspector General. At present, Maryland has no statewide agency solely responsible for promoting public access to information. Instead, we alloweach administrative agency to set its own transparency standards and disclosure rules. As a result, Maryland has a spotty transparency record. Additionally, our legislature has the authority via legislative audits to hold executive branch agencies accountable for compliance with accounting practices and State Stat is used to measure agency performance, but both are designed for internal accountability, neither are effective tools for public accountability. To ensure the transparency necessary for true public accountability we should create an Inspector General within the Comptroller's Office who will be charged with monitoring and ensuring that the public not only has access to public information, but has access to that information in a format that allows them to assess government performance and demand accountability. To do that, this Inspector General will be charged with collecting public information across agencies, conducting agency performance audits, ensuring user-friendly public access to the information and audits via a Transparency Portal (see below), monitoring complaints about access to public information, and making recommendations to remove undue barriers to public information. In addition to performance audits, the Inspector General will produce an agency report card identifying areas of improvement and barriers to keeping Maryland transparent and accountable to the public.

2. Comprehensive Open MD Transparency Portal. Maryland collects a wealth of information, but it is not integrated in a meaningful way nor is it provided in a user-friendly manner. We should consolidate existing databases across agencies into one user-friendly, easily navigated portal that will allow visitors to generate custom reports detailing government expenditures and performance across entities and programs. This will include links to pre-approved and final contracts describing the nature of the service provided, audits performed, subsidies and tax credits* provided, and tax dollars spent. Additionally, the database will include a performance monitor that includes information on jobs created, revenue generated, and other performance metrics. The public will be able to do a side-by-side comparison of costs, subsidies, etc. versus jobs created, revenue generated, etc., allowing for a more accurate cost benefit analysis of various projects. Finally, the tool will allow users to track the location of all state contracts/projects sorted by legislative districts receiving incentives alongside geographical data noting unemployment and economic development needs across the state.

*Note: To accomplish will need to eliminate corporate shield allowing companies doing business with the state to conceal disclosure of the corporate income tax credit received by the state. Without this amendment, corporations do not have to disclose income tax credits received.

3. Open Meeting Records Rule. Create an Open Meetings Records Rule to promote transparency in the development of state regulations. The Maryland General Assembly relies heavily on state agencies to develop and adopt regulations, yet state agencies are not required to make public meetings held between state employees and outside parties regarding the development of those regulations. As a result, information regarding those who influence this process is currently not accessible or available. We should adopt an Open Meeting Records Rule modeled after the disclosure requirements of the White House Office of Information Regulatory Affairs that will promote transparency in Maryland's rule making process; and to comply with the rule, set up a user-friendly website that archives every meeting with outside parties (state or local governments, small business, special interests groups, etc.) when the meeting concerns state regulations under review. The information would include date of the meeting, attendees and a PDF scan of attachments provided by the outside parties.

4. Open Book. Create a database that allows the public to explore state contracts awarded to corporations alongside campaign contributions made by that corporation, its officers or employees. With this tool, Marylanders could easily discover when government agencies may be awarding contracts based on political connections.

5. Democracy Innovation Labs. Host open source innovation labs and competitions in partnership with technology leaders and hubs including the Greater Baltimore Technology Council, iStrategy, OpenGov Foundation and others to develop technological tools that enable Marylanders to make the state more accessible, transparent and accountable to Marylanders.

6. Local Sunshine Challenge Grants. Provide localities and counties infrastructure support to replicate and link local expenditure tracking to state portals. The bulk of state expenditures are distributed by localities that have incongruent reporting at best. Providing tools to local municipalities will encourage greater transparency and cost-benefit analysis at all levels of government.

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