3/1/2011 3:38:00 PM
Contact: State Rep. David Brumbaugh
Capitol: (405) 557-7347
OKLAHOMA CITY (March 1, 2011) – House lawmakers voted today to increase public scrutiny of state road revenue.
House Bill 1489, the Taxpayer Transparency Act, passed through the Oklahoma House of Representatives with no opposition.
"This legislation creates a long-needed way for the public to access all state road funding through a single state website," said state Rep. David Brumbaugh, a Broken Arrow Republican who authored the measure. "If this bill becomes law, we will have a system of transparency for citizens that is identifiable, accessible, understandable, and usable."
Brumbaugh noted that over half of some transportation-generated revenue, such as motor vehicle fees, currently goes to non-transportation sources and agencies.
"The taxpayers have a right to know why we have billions of dollars in unfunded repairs and where their tax dollars are actually going," Brumbaugh said. "I hope this legislation will raise awareness of our road funding issues. With apportionment of fuel taxes and motor vehicle collections in the past going to aeronautics, tribes, the Corporation Commission and public education, Oklahoma citizens need to have complete transparency on how their hard earned dollars are used."
He noted that the issues of transparency and accountability were significant issues in recent statewide elections and House Bill 1489 advances that cause significantly.
House Bill 1489 passed 96-0 today and will now go to the Oklahoma Senate for consideration.
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Tue, March 1, 2011
by John Cox