By Bill Britt
Alabama Political Reporter
MONTGOMERY—“Open.Alabama has not been updated since September 30, due to a software update. 2016 data will be added as soon as it is available.”
This is the answer given to the citizens of Alabama who want to know how the government is spending their taxes dollars.
What kind of software update takes months? That is the same question recently asked at Left in Alabama.
Add to this the fact that Alison (legislative tracking software) hasn’t worked properly for over a year, and some grave questions begin to mount.
A call to the State comptrollers office yielded nothing but a transfer to the Governor’s communications office. State Comptroller Thomas L. White, Jr., nor any of his employees would answer our request for information.
Open Alabama was created when Governor Riley signed Executive Order 46 on February 11, 2009. Riley said of the order, “With this website, we’ve completely opened the books so everyone can know where the money goes and to whom it goes,” said Governor Riley. “It makes state government more accountable and transparent than it has ever been. The fact that so many are going online to find this information shows Alabamians are demanding greater accountability in their government.”
Under the current Republican supermajority, especially as led by indicted Speaker Mike Hubbard, transparency has not been a priority, simply a slogan.
We are awaiting more information on the software update.
