Issue Position: Good Government

Issue Position

Maryland is consistently ranked in the bottom half of integrity reports. The status quo on accountability is not good enough.

Taxpayers entrust Annapolis with their hard earned money. More needs to be done to ensure that the programs they pay for are delivering for people, not special interests or insiders.

This is why Doug unveiled six good government overhaul proposals, most importantly, creating a Public Information Inspector General. This independent officer will be charged with monitoring and ensuring that the public not only has access to public information, but also has access to that information in a format that allows them to assess government performance and demand accountability.

It's important that there be an independent voice and independent advocate to ensure that the public has access to information and performance assessments. Too often Annapolis spends money but does not assess if that money is doing what it's supposed to do. Doug wants to make sure the programs we fund are delivering for the people of Maryland.

Doug's reform ideas are built on a core belief: the public deserves better and quicker access to legislative and executive spending decisions in Annapolis. In other states and at the federal level, technology entrepreneurs are working with government partners to provide greater access to public information at low costs -- helping to create economic opportunities while ensuring accountability and efficiency in government. Unfortunately, according to a number of outside evaluators, Maryland consistently lags behind the rest of the nation in studies measuring transparency and integrity.

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