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Press Release: Vance Announces Plan to Provide a Window into Government Spending

date syndicated: Sep 23 2008 11:46AM

BISMARCK—Dem-NPL Treasurer Candidate Mitch Vance announced a plan Monday to transform the treasurer's office to the people's window into the cost of government.

"North Dakotans have the right to know how the government spends their money," he said. "As your treasurer, I will give you a window into this process."

Vance said he has a two-part plan to make this happen.

First, due to the non-partisan nature and positive response to his Price of Government in North Dakota report, Vance says he will integrate it into the State Treasurer's office operations and put it on the official website.

The site will also be interactive and contain historic data, meaning that North Dakotans will always be just a click away from finding out exactly how much of their money the government has raised and where it is going.

For example, did you know that government in 2007 cost 14.1 percent of North Dakota's average annual income, compared to a 10-year average of just 13.3 percent?

"You have a right to know what the government is doing with your money," Vance said. "In the Internet age, there is no excuse for not having it readily available."

Second, the treasurer's office will post a weekly or monthly summary statement of receipts and expenditures of the state checkbook online, along with the total amount on deposit in the Bank of North Dakota. These reports will contain all the information about how much money the government raises and spends. After all, it's not their money; it's your money.

"That is the kind of information taxpayers need," Vance said. "My price of government report and summary statements will bring it to them."

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