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Lawmaker Issues Call For More Budget Transparency

Governor, Budget Agency: List Of Cuts Doesn't Exist

POSTED: 6:47 pm EDT June 1, 2010

Democratic state Sen. Vi Simpson is calling on Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels and his budget agency to release a list of exactly what programs have seen less money because of budget cuts.

Simpson, the senate minority leader from Bloomington, told 6News' Kara Kenney that the budget director told her a comprehensive list of executive branch budget reductions isn't available.

She said she's skeptical that the governor and the budget agency don't know what's been cut.

"I can't believe we are running a government that does not know how much has been cut out of the budget," Simpson said. "The public has a right to this information. The governor refers to Indiana as the 'island of prosperity.' We are the island of secrets, and it's time it stops."

Simpson is asking each individual state agency for a list of cuts. She also said she'll introduce legislation next year that will make the state budget more accessible and to the public.

"We'll be putting together a legislative package to try to bring Indiana into the 21st Century in terms of access to information by the public," Simpson said. "We would make it all available to the public."

The governor's office released a statement saying the state is committed to providing essential services without raising taxes.

"Spending reductions are never easy, but Hoosiers expect us to be good stewards of their dollars, and that is what we are doing," the statement read.

The State Budget Agency had no comment on Simpson's plans.

A report from the U.S. Public Interest Research Group gave Indiana an "F" for online government transparency.

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