When I first campaigned for the office of Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, I made a pledge that my office would always understand and behave with the knowledge that taxpayer dollars are "your money" - and I have done my utmost to deliver on that promise.

Within 4 days of my taking over the Comptroller's office, every one of the agency's expenditures had been published online, so you the taxpayer could see where your money had been spent. Now, only one year later, all 200 agencies in our state government have their expenditures posted online.

Thanks to our innovative “Where the Money Goes” initiative, which acts as a virtual check register for all expenditures made by the State of Texas, each and every Texan has the ability to stay informed about state spending down to the very last penny (you can access this program at www.window.state.tx.us/comptrol/expendlist/cashdrill.php).

A variety of Texans can use this new innovation in different ways. For example, students have this tool at their fingertips for research, taxpayers always know how the government is spending their money, while local governments now have access to information for comparisons and proposals.

This had never been done before, and it was long overdue. Simple ideas can have powerful consequences when you put more information in the hands of taxpayers. The Comptroller's office has worked hard over the course of the last year to make the government of Texas even more transparent.

Transparency is essential, both for the taxpayer to understand how their money is being used and as to ensure government accountability. When people and agencies understand that their actions can be viewed from the outside, they are more likely to behave wisely. As a result of our efforts, agencies now understand that there is an open window into their processes and their spending.