Transparency and Accountability

Transparency and accountability. You’ll hear that a lot in the next few months. Senate Republicans are already using those two lovely nouns as they talk about the government and how it functions. Last week they introduced a bill that would provide both by establishing a web site where the public could log on and see exactly how their tax dollars are being spent. The hope is that these words will catch on and people will start to question things.

So what’s this burgeoning trend all about? Lets shed some light on the matter. Here are the definitions. Transparency: made visible by a light behind it. Accountability: responsible; required to account for. Pretty simple. The more we question our government, the more transparency and accountability we have. The government works for us, after all, and not the other way around.

Remember those two words throughout this session when you hear about how government is growing and flood relief money is being doled out. If you forget, we’ll be sure to remind you.



Heard at the Capitol today: “These bleeding-heart liberals think we need to take care of everyone in Iowa.”