Telfer Wants Clearer Language in Budgets
by Julia Gray
Published Jan 27, 2010
She says most lawmakers don't know just how much money is available to budget.
Senator Chris Telfer is questioning a couple of state officials about state spending and reserves. Appearing on the Lars Larson show Tuesday afternoon, Telfer says she's not getting answers to basic questions like how much money really is available for budgeting. “There's very little accountability and there's no transparency in our finances. You know I’m on that transparency subcommittee and I’m going to be pushing for more transparency. Oregonians need to know where their tax dollars are being spent. Legislators need to know what money we have in order to balance the budget and provide services. We don't know that right now. And when I get the Secretary of State that tells me she doesn't know either or the State Controller tells me he doesn't know and he won't know for a few weeks, we've got a problem." Telfer says as an accountant, she is able to understand some of the language used by officials when preparing an expenditures report. She’s figured that there is a lot of money attached to various accounts that is just sitting there. Telfer says she will be working on bills to make the language clearer for legislators so they will know where money is available and identify those funds that are restricted