just another winter day!

So the SNOWPOCALYPSE of 2011 has finally hit NWA, and after 24+ inches of snow, Snowpocalypse has yet to leave. Sadly though I'm enjoying this all alone as L is at work, but thank goodness for Hot Chocolate, Pandora, a Computer and Heat!



Off our back porch, the stop sign is almost COVERED!



So yesterday was a great/big day for the state, as our New Lt. Governor Mark Darr unanimously passed Senate BILL 221, The Arkansas Financial Transparency Act. YAY for online Checkbooks! I remember when Mark was running and this was one of his big platforms. I think it's great for the state and will be very beneficial. Maybe that’s because I'm conservative? HA! I mean really.. who doesn't want to know where their tax dollars are being spent? Here is an excerpt from Darr's Press Release: “This bill will serve as an online checkbook for Arkansans and provide the accountability they deserve.  This is an issue I feel very strongly about and is one of the primary reasons I ran for public office. It is my belief that an online checkbook will promote fiscal responsibility and serve as a check against wasteful spending. I look forward to a favorable vote on the floor of the Senate.”



Mark speaking to the committee.

Interesting as of now at least 32 states currently mandate that residents be able to access an online database of government expenditures with “checkbook-level” detail. Most of these Web sites are also searchable, making it easier for residents to obtain information about government spending. Though after further review I found only Five (5) states that have the Online Checkbook capabilities offered to the public, so Arkansas would be the SIXTH (6). (Source :http://www.mopirg.org)So congratulations and THANK YOU to Lt. Governor Mark Darr for forming and developing this Bill. 

Richard Weiss, director of the state Department of Finance and Administration, told the committee it would cost the state about $600,000 to set up the database and $300,000 annually to operate it. The bill would require the database to up and running by July 1, 2012. I think those people who are against it or not in favor, are concerned that it will (1) Hold them more accountable, and (2) It could potentially expose information that they would not public

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Lucy