A bill to create a transparency tool called Louisiana Checkbook passed the House Appropriations committee, and may be considered on the house floor later this week. The program closely mirrors Ohiocheckbook.com, where Ohio residents are presented a detailed report about state expenses. House Speaker Taylor Barras says it’s a user friendly tool for the public.
According to Barras, the Louisiana Checkbook could be "...one of the most interactive tools for gathering the financial data of state agencies."
Barras says the checkbook would provide detailed information on individual state agencies’ budgets, and allow people to compare expenses across those agencies.
But Louisiana Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says the state already has the tools in place to provide some of those services without having to contract with a third party. He says the cost of the program has yet to be revealed.
Dardenne says that there are "fiscal issues" that legislators must be aware of during the process of creating the Louisiana Checkbook.