State Representative Mark Falzone joined his colleagues in the Massachusetts House of Representatives in passing budget amendments aimed at increasing the openness and accessibility of the budget process. These amendments, coupled with the online, searchable database of government expenditures established by the FY11 House budget proposal, promise to increase the visibility of state spending.

Representative Falzone emphasized, “For those of us who believe that Massachusetts citizens and taxpayers should be fully informed regarding how their representatives are handling their money this is a major reform and step forward. I am pleased that this progress will provide the tools of transparency to enable those interested to hold our government officials accountable for expenditures and for the many tax breaks that are a major part of our budgets and state financial condition. Both types of expenditures will now be easily subject to public review.”

According to a recent MASSPIRG study, 32 other states provide on online database with in-depth detail on government expenditures. With the establishment of a searchable, online database in the House FY11 budget proposal, Massachusetts would join these states in terms of accessibility to information on government spending.

The amendments promise to make government expenditures more visible by requiring the public disclosure of the results of certain tax credit programs, and including tax credits within the definition of “state awards” that are posted in the online budget database established by the FY11 House budget proposal.

Last year’s House rules reform required the House Clerk to make all bills introduced and admitted for consideration to the House available to members electronically and post them on the internet. The reform package also requires notice of committee hearings to be posted on the internet.