Texas Earns a B

 According to “FOLLOWING THE MONEY: How the 50 States Rate in Providing Online Access to Government Spending Data,” a new report issued by the Texas Public Interest Research Group (TexPIRG), Texas gets a “B”. 

In response, FOIFT Executive Director Keith Elkins said, “The Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas is pleased with these results overall. However, as admirable as a B-report card is improvements can and should be made, especially in the area of making contract summary information more transparent and available.” 

In a news release issued by TexPIRG, State Representative Pete Gallegos, Chairman of the Select Committee on Government Efficiency and Accountability also said, “This report shows us that Texas is leading the way for the nation in government transparency and access to online information. While this report puts Texas in the top 5 in the United States for our efforts, we cannot rest on our laurels”. Gallego went on to say, “In an economy that is just starting to recover, we have to provide Texans with an open window to the process of government spending and access to online state information.”   Click for full report