Oregon Legislature Unanimously Passes Bill to Increase Government Transparency

OSPIRG

Statement by Celeste Meiffren, OSPIRG’s Consumer and Taxpayer Advocate, regarding the unanimous passage of House Bill 2370 through the Oregon House and Senate. 

“The Oregon legislature took an important step towards ensuring that Oregonians have access to information on how public dollars are spent through the unanimous passage of House Bill 2370.

“Among other things, this bill will add additional information to the Oregon transparency website about a set of economic development tax subsidies, including the Oregon New Markets Tax Credit and Enterprise Zones. This is essential to ensuring that the public can do meaningful evaluation of these subsidies’ cost and effectiveness.

“Transparency in government spending checks corruption, bolsters public confidence in government and promotes greater effectiveness and fiscal responsibility. We commend the Oregon legislature for passing this important, bipartisan bill.”

To read the bill, go to: https://olis.leg.state.or.us/liz/2013R1/Measures/Overview/HB2370

The Oregon transparency website can be found at: http://www.oregon.gov/transparency/Pages/index.aspx