Dear
Governor Schwarzenegger:
I would like to publicly congratulate you on your
achievements in the short time you have been Governor
of California.
Along
with many thousands of us, Californians, I believe
we have turned the corner and are on our way out of
the financial mess that this state was in before you
took office.
I particularly want to acknowledge your efforts to
save Californians' taxpayer money by reducing government
waste and fraud.
You have stated many times that you believe in open
government, and in opening the financial books to
the public. I urge you now to take the next logical
step in restoring the fiscal health of California.
Please
throw your weight behind the Post
the Finances initiative, officially
known as "State Revenue and Expenditures. Initiative
Statute." This initiative calls for all Californian
government departments and agencies to post all of
their finances, every day, to the Internet.
Post the Finances
is like a daily, on-demand peoplešs audit. It will
reduce wasteful spending and fraud.
Politicians and bureaucrats will realize that they
can no longer play around with the taxpayers' money,
because the taxpayers will be able to watch their
every move.
Post the Finances will provide an unprecedented opportunity
for citizen oversight of their own government.
After all, it is our money that funds the government
and we have the right to know how it is being spent.
In addition to your promise to audit the books, you
have also stated that if the legislature refuses to
break out of its habitual gridlock, you will create
referendums or initiatives to bypass the legislature
in the interests of the people of California.
Post the Finances, which has initially been resisted
by the Sacramento political establishment, is surely
an initiative that merits your support.
I, along with millions of other Californians, believe
that you are on the side of the people of California,
not the ideologues on either side or the vested financial
interests.
I believe that Post
the Finances is a reform that cannot
be delayed.
It is in the best interests of every resident of California,
and I urge you to give your full support to the initiative
officially known as "State Revenue and Expenditures.
Initiative Statute."
Will you use your next press conference to publicly
endorse it?
Everywhere I go in California I meet with enthusiastic
support for this initiative.
An
endorsement from you, the Governor of California,
would show everyone that you mean what you say about
openness in government.
The wise leader listens to what the people are saying.
And more and more people in California are saying,
"Post the Finances
for Fiscal Honesty."
Can we rely on you, the Governor of our state, to
hear us?
And may I have an appointment with you to discuss
the initiative in more detail?
I hope so.
Respectfully,
