COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Government spending, much like a congested and confusing collection of roadways, takes a good map to figure out what goes where.

That is why the watchdog group, Buckeye Institute created the Center for Transparent and Accountable Government. And the Web site OhioSunshine.org.

In an interview with WHIOTV.COM, the center’s director, Mike Maurer, said their goal is to stimulate the disclosure of government operating data.

Maurer said the site was inspired by the federal site, USASpending.gov, which lists federal contracts worth billions of dollars.

“Eleven million Ohioans, 250 million Americans, anybody in the world who has access to the internet should be able to get everything government does and quickly,” Maurer said.

The group plans to post important state government documents that will show how billions of tax dollars are being spent.

But the focus is not limited to state government.

Local spending is also under the microscope. A recent posting included a news account of a controversy over spending in Union Township in Clermont County.

The administration of Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland recently began posting contract information on line, but the data is limited to companies doing business with the Ohio Department of Administrative Services.

Maurer calls it a good first-step, but said several other states have done much better.

West Virginia, for example, lists the name and salary of every state employee.

The State of Alaska even put its entire checkbook online, listing every person or company paid more than $1,000 in the previous month.

Maurer said the Buckeye Institute site also includes a portal for average citizens to get involved.

People will be able to post local government and school district spending information in a format much like Wikipedia, the free internet encyclopedia created and maintained by users.

Could the Buckeye Institute site help prevent government waste?

Maurer said with people in government will be well aware that the details of their actions will be made public for all to see.

“If you know someone’s looking over your shoulder, by golly, you behave a little bit differently,” Maurer said.

Click here to see the Buckeye Institute site: www.OhioSunshine.org

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