Stimulus Spending and Accountability

If the public is to trust that the stimulus dollars are being spent the way the should, then the public must be confident that there is significant independent oversight of that spending. Transparency and accountability must be the watchwords.

Today, I met with Senator Mark Udall to talk to him about some federal legislation that would provide the necessary resources to state and local governments to ensure that oversight. When the dollars are being spent and administered in Denver or Colorado, then the oversight must be here as well. Watching from afar, the watchdog may only see the big picture and not the critical details.

In the Denver Auditor's office, we have cut our budget by over 7%. That means that not only do we have fewer resources to accomplish our regular audit schedule, but that we really don't have the resources to monitor the stimulus spending the way it should be monitored – and that is an unacceptable situation.

As I said, this is about transparency and accountability, and that only comes from independent oversight.

I hope the Senate will move this legislation soon, so that the monitoring can begin soon. We don't want to be in a situation of closing the barn doors after..............

I tried to meet with Senator Bennet, but unfortunately he could not fit me into his schedule. However I left him a letter outlining my position and request.

If any of you are so inclined, please call the good Senators and ask them to support this important legislation. It has already passed the US House, so it only needs final Senate passage.

If you would like to read the letters themselves and other information, please go to
www.denvergov.org/auditor.