Alaskans should have easy access to how the State of Alaska spends taxpayer money
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 17, 2014
JUNEAU – Today, Representative Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins (D-Sitka) and House Democratic Whip Chris Tuck (D-Anchorage) pre-filed legislation to create a “taxpayer receipt,” giving Alaskans more information about state finances.
“Alaskans should have easy access to how the State of Alaska spends taxpayer money,” said Kreiss-Tomkins. “This bill costs peanuts because it piggybacks on information already sent out for PFDs, and it will help people have a better understanding of just how in the world Alaska spends its money.”
The bill (HB256) would require the Legislative Finance Division to prepare a one-page summary of the state budget and finances presented in simple, easy-to-understand format. The Department of Revenue would distribute the summary to all Permanent Fund Dividend recipients, by mail or email, with the 1099 tax forms already sent to all PFD recipients.
“Alaskans need to know how the Legislature is spending their money,” said Tuck. “The more the public knows, the more effective they will be at making sure their government is working for them.”
The bill designates the nonpartisan Legislative Finance Division to prepare the “taxpayer receipt” in order to ensure an impartial, non-politicized, and objective summary of finances. The sponsors introduced the bill with a bipartisan, inclusive spirit and will be actively recruiting legislators, both Republicans and Democrats, rural legislators and urban legislators, to sign on as co-sponsors.
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