Good Afternoon. My name is Deirdre Cummings and I am the legislative director for MASSPIRG.  MASSPIRG is a 35 year old, non-profit, non-partisan member-supported public interest advocacy organization that works to protect consumers, enhance public health, promote public transportation and foster responsive, democratic government. I am here today in support of two proposed ordinances by city Councillor Sam Yoon, Docket number 1020, An Ordinance Regulating the Boston City Council Meeting Minutes, and Docket number 1276, A Resolution in support of Publicly Posting City Commission/Board members, agendas, minutes and schedules on the City Website.

Both of these proposals are common sense measures which can serve to help the public participate more effectively in their community.  Posting council minutes on line and in plain language and including meaningful information about all the City Commissions and Boards serves to better inform and involve the public. This will be in addition to the great work the city has already done at already providing some very good information on your website.   

 Democracy works best when political institutions are close to voters and taxpayers. This requires that the public are able to make their needs understood; elected representatives explain what they are doing to meet those needs; and mechanisms are in place to make this communication possible.

 As you consider information and transparency upgrades I would also urge you to consider budget transparency. The ability to see how government uses the public purse, checks corruption, bolsters public confidence in government, and promotes fiscal responsibility.

 I am including as part of my testimony, a report I have released last week entitled, Transparency.gov 2.0  Using the Internet for budget transparency to increase accountability, efficiency and taxpayer confidence.  The report highlights the national trend towards transparent budgets, outlines the clear benefits in the form of money saved and more accountable contracting and expenditures with private entities. The report compares best practices in 18 states that have “upgraded” their budget transparency this way. The same principles should apply to local city and town budgets.

 Like the growing number of states, Boston should enlist new information technology tools to enhance transparency for public money. Specifically it would mean the public could view on line a comprehensive, one-stop, one-click budget. Searchable Web portals to track any government contract or subsidy are becoming standard practice.  Public officials across the country increasingly know that their spending and fiscal decisions are open to public scrutiny.

 These technological tools are something we take for granted in the private sector. Internet search engines have revolutionized the accessibility of information. We can track deliveries online, check cellphone minutes, and compare real estate, even summon - at the click of a mouse - satellite and street-level views of any address. But when it comes to tracking particular government expenditures online, we are left in the dark.

 By turning on the transparency light, we will minimize opportunities for “unethical” behavior and bolster public integrity.