Is North Carolina ready for a Web 2.0 budget?
A grassroots group called Citizens Informed is pushing for the state budget and spending to be available online in a more searchable and linkable format.
For several years, the budget has been posted as a massive PDF — essentially an online printout.
Launched in November, the group is calling for the budget and spending to be "searchable, accessible and user-friendly," though it gives few details on exactly how that should work.
Director Laurie Onorio, a 24-year-old Garner resident who works in public affairs, said the group hopes the state will model similar sites in Texas, Missouri and Alaska. (Gov.-elect Beverly Perdue has also called for "Google transparency" on state spending.)
For now, the group has about 35 individual members and support from the conservative John Locke Foundation and Civitas Institute. The Web site also makes some conservative critiques of the budget, noting that "$50 million of your tax money is allocated for 'open space.'"
But Onorio said the group aims to be bipartisan.
"We want to get anyone and everyone who supports this on board," she said. "This is not a partisan issue whatsoever."
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Re: Group pushes for better online budget
Protzman would rather we strike the term "grassroots" and opt for the oh-so popular "community organizer." I am sure Protzman would rather the funding to come from the Golden Leaf Foundation.
And by "Puppetshow" comment, are you referring to Gov.-elect Perdue, Sen. Basnight, Sen. Rand, etc.? If so, then yes I concur that "there is nothing the Puppetshow does that is not partisan, no matter how many winks and nods they offer when challenged on that claim." As was the case when the looming study on Offshore Drilling was announced by Sen. Basnight...all the while the legislation will never see the light of day. Only costing the taxpayers of NC a meager $100,000.
The term grassroots simply refers to reaching the individual citizenry. A website is a tool that is easily utilized by the individual citizen, thus the phrasing is appropriate in this situation.
As for transparency of their website... It is a new organization, so be patient...regardless there is a fundamental difference. We elect the governmental officials; therefore, they are beholden to our wishes...lest we forget this notion. My wish, as should be every citizens', is that I know where, how much and when my taxpaying dollars are being spent. This organization is a private group of citizens...plus is what they are calling for that bad...?
Why are liberals so angry right now? They have their leaders in place...