Open access

THE ISSUE

Alabama finished poorly in a national survey of states and the information they provide about lobbyists, contracts and susbsidies online.

A survey by a national advocacy group of state government Web sites makes a telling point about the lack of information available to citizens. Good Jobs First, a Washington D.C.-based group that promotes government accountability in economic development, found many states - including Alabama - lacking in the information they provide about how business is conducted.

"The Internet makes possible an unprecedented level of government transparency and public participation," said Greg LeRoy, executive director of Good Jobs First, in the release Thursday of the group's The State of State Disclousre survey. "But many states have been slow to adopt vigorous online disclosure ..."

The group focused its survey on three categories: economic development subsidies, state contracts, and lobbying activity. Alabama scored well in revealing information online about state contracts, earning a grade of B-. But the lack of lobbying and subsidies information available online earned scores of F.

Lobbyists in Alabama have a nearly free rein to spend and influence lawmakers and public officials as they please. Efforts to stop PAC-to-PAC transfers have failed and lobbyists are required to report little about their dealings with state officials.

Alabama, it seems, has two problems with government transparency. One is the lack of political will - and lack of public pressure - to open government processes to public scrutiny. The second is the lack of money and staff to transfer information to public Web sites. There has been some progress, most notably from Secretary of State Beth Chapman, who is expanding the information available on her Web site. But much more could be done to provide access to government records and contracts throughout the state.

Public confidence in government is essential if Alabama is to move beyond its reputation for good ol' boy politics and ineffectiveness. Right now, there is little confidence in the government. One way to change that is to make some changes in the way business is conducted. Another way is to make information readily available to anyone with Internet access.

In an age when virtually everything is available via the Internet, information about government business activities should not be so difficult to find and obtain online.