Nearly $17 billion is headed for Texas courtesy of the federal government and making sure that that money isn’t wasted won’t be easy, but thanks to the Comptroller’s newest site, Tracking the Texas Stimulus, taxpayers will at least have another tool in their arsenal.
Launched late last week, the website lists “the provisions of the federal stimulus bill, estimates of federal spending and the amounts Texas might expect to see” although it should be mentioned that the figures are subject to change pending guidance from Washington on how and where the funds should apply.
And yesterday, Rep. Jim Dunnam, chair of the House Select Committee on Federal Economic Stabilization Funding, launched http://www.txstimulusfund.com, a website that compiles the documents obtained through his committee’s research.
Whatever dollar amount finally reaches Texas, transparency and accountability are going to be critical in the months and years ahead to ensure this money is spent properly. These two new websites are a good step in that direction.
– Talmadge Heflin