BALTIMORE (Map, News) - Fewer than one in 10 Americans believe their government in Washington, D.C., is “open and honest” about how it spends their tax dollars. That’s perhaps the most disturbing result of the Association of Government Accountants’ recent survey, “Public Attitudes to Government Accountability and Transparency 2008.” The survey asked 1,652 adults their views on the federal government’s financial management, accessibility and accountability to taxpayers. The results offer a vivid portrait of a yawning credibility gap:

» Three out of four respondents say it is extremely or very important to them that they get financial management information from the federal government, but only 5 percent say they are satisfied with the official information they receive now.

» Three out of four of those surveyed say it is extremely or quite important to them that the government be truthful about its spending, but only 5 percent think they get the truth from official reports and statements,

» Three out of four of those surveyed say they want more financial management information and will use it to decide how they will vote.

» A fourth, or 23 percent, of those surveyed cited “excessive amounts of unrestrained spending” as their top concern on federal financial management, and 14 percent cited earmarks and other forms of pork barrel spending.

The survey will be repeated annually, according to the AGA. It was conducted only a few months after the U.S. Office of Management and Budget began posting massive amounts of data about federal spending on the Internet at USAS pending.gov. That’s the Google-like searchable database mandated by the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006. Interestingly, only 10 percent of the respondents said putting government spending data on the Internet would increase official accountability. Our prediction is that percentage will steadily rise in the years ahead as public awareness, understanding and use of the database grows.

The presidential candidates would do well to pay attention to the AGA survey results. Sen. John McCain, the almost-certain Republican nominee, has a long and distinguished record of voting against wasteful federal spending. He promises to veto any spending bill sent to him by Congress that contains earmarks. And he has made clear his intention to confront head-on the issue of entitlement spending reform, something neither party’s leaders have been willing to do in recent years.

People don’t believe the government tells the truth about its spending and they want genuine change, so this ought to be a strong point for McCain. Except for this: Sen. Barack Obama, the likely Democratic nominee, co-sponsored the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act, though, strangely, he rarely mentions it while campaigning. How refreshing it would be to have two nominees vying to be the most committed to federal spending reform and transparency.

Comments from Examiner Readers

11:46 AM MST on Sat., May. 17, 2008 re: "Tight-belt leadership"

Examiner Reader said:
Why should Chief Johnson have to trim his budget, to offset a 4 million dollar pay raise that was won by the F.O.P. thru binding arbitration? Chief Johnson did not participate in the negotiations between the F.O.P. and the County negotiators. County Voters approved binding arbitration for the Police Department and the County Exec should not be trying to back door the award of the arbitrator the way he has done.For those of us that work for the Baltimore County Police Department, we can tell you it nickles and dimes every purchase and expense it has to make and there is not alot of fat in our budget if there was we would have take home cars, top of the line equipment, up to date computer technology, etc... which we do not have that other surrounding jurisdicitons do. This is just a basic case of Jim Smith and Fred Homan being sore losers in the binding arbitration ruling, the arbitrator found that the County could afford the raise after going over the County's finances.

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2:15 PM MST on Fri., May. 16, 2008 re: "Tight-belt leadership"

Examiner Reader said:
Baltimore county does not have take home cars for it's officers, as do most other jurisdictions in md.

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3:01 PM MST on Thu., May. 15, 2008 re: "Tight-belt leadership"

Dear Editorial said:
Dear Editorial, what you forgot to mention is that Baltimore County requested binding abitration and lost. Fred Homan and Jim Smith rolled the dice and lost, now they have to live up to the deal. If the Police lost the case they would live with it. Its time for Baltimore County to start treating its employees fairly and ethically!

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2:18 PM MST on Thu., May. 15, 2008 re: "Tight-belt leadership"

Examiner Reader said:
I am not saying Police don't have a dangerous job, nut come on these people took it willingly, knowing full well that it is not the highest paying job in the land, but why tell me in these tough economic times when other people in private and Gov't jobs, are having to do without an increase, schools are overcrowded, gas through the roof, food prices going up, taxes up, BGE raising 8%, my tax money I am paying should go toward something more important than giving 1000+ Police a raise.

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11:07 AM MST on Thu., May. 15, 2008 re: "Tight-belt leadership"

Examiner Reader said:
If the Writer of this would do his home work thet would know that the Baltimore County Police Department doesnot have take home cars for the rank and file police officers.

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10:52 AM MST on Thu., May. 15, 2008 re: "Tight-belt leadership"

Reader said:
I fully support a pay raise for police officers in Baltimore County. I live in Balto. Co. (Dundalk) and I can tell you that cops jobs are much more dangerous than they used to be. Dundalk now has a large criminal element that wasn't there in the past. As our demographics changed so did our criminal element. We are overwhelmed with Section 8, much of which is due to former city residents relocating to Baltimore County after the public housing was razed. No, I'm not a cop nor do I have family members that are cops, so this is not a personal thing. But I also see what the cops have to deal with these days. They are the ones putting their lives on the line for us and for that deserve a decent raise.

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10:44 AM MST on Thu., May. 15, 2008 re: "Tight-belt leadership"

Examiner Reader said:
It bothers me that the chief is quick to support the 4 million dollar increases for 1800 people instead of looking at what that 4 million could help to fund in his own department. The department has been increasingly falling behind in staffing the support units to the police department in particular the civilianized units. As an individual who should look at the whole department as opposed to just a small cog of the greater wheel he and the council should be making strides to remedy those problems first instead of funding yet another pay increase and benefit enhancements to the police. And those in the department may gripe but ultimatley when they are waiting months to clear a case because things are held up in another short staffed over worked unit they should appreciate the addition of more people. ONe need only ask any detective and they will tell you where that money should be going. Stop living in an ivory tower and get down to ground level to see how things really are working

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9:21 AM MST on Thu., May. 15, 2008 re: "Tight-belt leadership"

Reader said:
Start a committee and donations and fund your own school, you silver spoons are too stupid and cheap to realize what a fiscal year is let alone fiscal responsibility. Blame game or real solutions. Idiots. Anyone can be an activist. Teachers should know better, after all aren't they supposed to be the childrens role models? No one wants to look at a cheap teacher at teh head of a class. Who cares?

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6:18 AM MST on Thu., May. 15, 2008 re: "Leave a few behind to save our schools"

Examiner Reader said:
This is one of the best articiles that I have read describing the school systems in Maryland. But, alas the people who need to read this and realize that positive actions need to be taken will never see this.

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12:54 AM MST on Thu., May. 15, 2008 re: "Hypocrisy in Annapolis"

johnn said:
martin omalley is the worst govenor this state ever had,i thought it was glending,but omalley tops him THE WORST GOVENOR THE STATE HAS EVER KNOW

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10:51 PM MST on Tue., May. 13, 2008 re: "Iraq or the NFL"

Reader 2 said:
About the Army Football story, David Robinson was let out of a 3 year commitment after serving only 2 and served as a reservist for 4 years. BTW, that was during Gulf War 1 and he never went over there. Also, the assumption this guy makes is that all Military Academy grads go to War. That's factually incorrect. He will serve in the reserves as a recruiter and with the Army's massive recruiting problems he will have plenty of chances to help the effort on the home front.

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4:27 AM MST on Tue., May. 13, 2008 re: "Let sun shine on city contracts"

Examiner Reader said:
Gee, maybe if CON-A-WAY was mayor we wouldn't have this "little" probelm with IDA...we would have MANY more. Also, it is interesting to note that not only do we have Conaway in elected office, but also his wife, his son and his daughter! Wonder how they all got elected? Anyone wlese smell a rat?

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1:33 AM MST on Mon., May. 12, 2008 re: "Let sun shine on city contracts"

johnn said:
you know this kind of behavior was going on when omalley was mayor...just like the police department city hall is dumb,and fumble all the time,dixson is already being investigated,now this...so she is not mayor then why is she making all thease decisions?

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1:19 PM MST on Mon., May. 5, 2008 re: "Iraq or the NFL"

a thinker said:
David Robinson served his two years after graduation from the Naval Academy. He is an officer and a gentleman who lived up to the creed of duty and honor before going to play the games of boys.

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1:15 PM MST on Mon., May. 5, 2008 re: "Iraq or the NFL"

Examiner Reader said:
Um, hello, what about David Robinson and Napolean McCallum? Is it OK for the Navy to allow their star athletes to play professionally, but it's an unfair advantage if the Army allows it?

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1:09 PM MST on Mon., May. 5, 2008 re: "Iraq or the NFL"

Monroe Harden USMA 1984 said:
Your editorial has a serious factual error. The policy in question is an Army policy, not a West Point policy. Your criticism should be aimed at the Army's policy makers, not West Point's.

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10:47 PM MST on Thu., May. 1, 2008 re: "Bags against humanity"

Examiner Reader said:
You don't replace them with paper bags idiots you replace them with reusable cloth bags.

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7:19 PM MST on Thu., May. 1, 2008 re: "CASA does not deserve tax dollars"

Tim said:
Amen, cut them off immediately

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11:10 AM MST on Thu., May. 1, 2008 re: "Bags against humanity"

Examiner Reader said:
The lobbists for the paper products industry must be lining the pockets of James Kraft.

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11:47 AM MST on Wed., Apr. 30, 2008 re: "O�Malley�s slogan: Shop Delaware"

Examiner Reader said:
Well-said. Maybe O'Malley should fly his family back to the homeland again and ask the Dublin Chamber of Commerce for advice. As always, when it's Wonder Boy, you pay, we pay. He had a terrible record as mayor and has a worse one as gov (already).

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11:20 AM MST on Wed., Apr. 30, 2008 re: "O�Malley�s slogan: Shop Delaware"

Steven Lessner said:
This is an out of control illegal immigrant loving govenor who would rather give money and tax credits to CASA house than worry about citizens of the state. People are leaving this state in droves but let's increase taxes instead of cutting the budget. Let's watch the govenor give 80k raises to 5 of his best friends instead of cutting salaries.

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8:01 AM MST on Tue., Apr. 29, 2008 re: "Trim by example"

Examiner Reader said:
Keep in mind that Ulman spent money like he was shot out of a cannon last year, and is part of the reason he is now desperately trying to find things to cut.

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6:21 AM MST on Tue., Apr. 29, 2008 re: "Thugs must not rule"

Frank from Parkville said:
Dr. Alonso - a blow-hard with not enough "intestinal fortitude to back up his pathetically transparent threats. Mayor Dixon - pathetic leader. When your leadership is as ineffective as the two I have listed above, what can you expect from the teachers and students under them? The fish stinks from the head...

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6:56 PM MST on Mon., Apr. 28, 2008 re: "Thugs must not rule"

Examiner Reader said:
Well, I think they all belong in jail.

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2:48 PM MST on Mon., Apr. 28, 2008 re: "Thugs must not rule"

Fred said:
My concern is that expelling these students will put them on the street where they can exhibit their behavior. There needs to be a school with the look and feel of a prison where the students will be sent from 7 am to 5 pm. If they do not attend then their parents can go to jail. Drastic measures for sure but what has been done and how we have allowed students to behave in the past 30 years has gotten us nowhere. My public school would have tolerated it neither would my parent's or grandparent's schools. My question to those that would oppose this, where the previous generations so bad?

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2:01 PM MST on Mon., Apr. 28, 2008 re: "Thugs must not rule"

HMichaelH said:
Baltimore is a lost city, anyway. Get the humans out of it, and then build a fence around it to keep the animals in and away from all of us!

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11:18 AM MST on Mon., Apr. 28, 2008 re: "Thugs must not rule"

Examiner Reader said:
right on target. attacks on teachers should be reported directly to police. and if principals object, they shouldn't be principals in baltimore schools.

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11:06 AM MST on Mon., Apr. 28, 2008 re: "Thugs must not rule"

Examiner Reader said:
I was so glad to read your article. It was right on target. What is wrong with this board of education, and the city government, who are still investigating. Thank you Examiner.

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7:51 AM MST on Mon., Apr. 28, 2008 re: "Thugs must not rule"

Examiner Reader said:
Charge the perpetrators as adults and charge the parents of the perpetrators for rearing garbage. If charges don't work, withold the foodstamps and the other handout benefits.

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1:22 AM MST on Mon., Apr. 28, 2008 re: "Thugs must not rule"

johnn said:
and they dixon is not going to do anything now,shes waitng for school to get out so the heat will be of her hind parts,and she can say next year we will solve this problem

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6:22 AM MST on Sat., Apr. 26, 2008 re: "CASA does not deserve tax dollars"

Kim and the gang said:
Now that Va. is scaring all the illegals to Maryland, we will need double the money. You bet we will get it from our buddies in the statehouse! Thanks, Casa De Maryland.

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3:18 PM MST on Thu., Apr. 24, 2008 re: "Grave digging"

Reader said:
I have an idea, condemn all broken down, slum landlord housing projects and mpove to a state where you can afford proper housing.

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2:32 PM MST on Thu., Apr. 24, 2008 re: "Grave digging"

Examiner Reader said:
Who cares about the citizens, the honest ones will keep paying... What city government needs to do is consolidate and stop services already provided by the state. Turning the schools over to the state would be a good start.

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9:17 AM MST on Wed., Apr. 23, 2008 re: "Schools must air violence"

Examiner Reader said:
The assumption is that by posting incidents on a site to inform parents of violence is that the parents care. Most of the problem children in Baltimore schools have parents that don't care or don't exist. With the drug trade (drugs will exist as long as there is a demand) and daily death, this "children" (16yr old in 5th grade) have no fear what so ever of death. Do you think they care about detention... expulsion...failing grades.. who are you kiding? We now spend so much to try and "save" those who could care less. I wonder if trying to "fix" the situation is a mistake. No government or money can fix "the broken homes". Maybe we should try and accelerate the violence. Maybe then it will burn out or the black community will decide to heal itself. No politician will admit it, but nothing they have tried or suggested has worked, only exacerbated. Time to "cull the herd" and remove those who do not want to be part of civilized society.

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2:30 PM MST on Tue., Apr. 22, 2008 re: "Do what I say, not what I do"

Examiner Reader said:
the only thing you can count on from a politician is murder,theft, arrogance and hippocrisy.

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4:23 PM MST on Wed., Apr. 16, 2008 re: "Baltimore County teachers union dishes out empty complaints"

Examiner Reader said:
Are you really that daft to think that teachers don't deserve a better salary? You can write thanks to a teacher!

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11:19 AM MST on Mon., Apr. 14, 2008 re: "Naval Academy in need of independent probe"

Examiner Reader said:
I have to comment of the editorial "Naval Academy in need of independent probe". All of the officers listed as abusing power are not Naval Academy grads. Also, the Academy has a much, much lower sexual assault rate than any civilian school, except maybe BYU. Be careful how you label the institution that protects your paper's right to publish. We do the best we can with little resources and even less help from the public. Yes, the Academy is its own little world but we have more oversight than any other service academy. In my opinion this place is not perfect but it is a far cry better than it has been in the past and the civilian colleges in this area. It easy to lampoon the military because of our higher moral standards, but you must remember we are all human and humans make mistakes. Please remember this the next time you write an editorial. Very respectfully, W.T. Door MIDN USN

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11:20 AM MST on Sun., Apr. 13, 2008 re: "�Pork� projects swell Maryland's budget"

Examiner Reader said:
The power elite want to remain that way - Pork buys votes. Pre-election promises to get votes are easy to make, but seems there is never a follow through. So, once in office, these so called civil servants - I like to refer to them as "self servants" - do whatever it takes to keep the people who put them office happy. I personally think that earmarks should not be allowed to be attached to any legislation. These ego centrics rob the majority of us taxpayers for a select few. These same people supposedly have an obligation to protect the public trust and do what is right for everyone - but, seems that 'everyone' turns out to be the self servant.

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3:45 PM MST on Fri., Apr. 11, 2008 re: "�Pork� projects swell Maryland's budget"

Examiner Reader said:
While I, too, believe they are all worthy causes, isn't that what fundraising, applying for grants and foundation money is for? These projects are not economic development related. It's not prudent; government is supposed to represent what is best for all citizens - not a select few.

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5:49 AM MST on Fri., Apr. 11, 2008 re: "�Pork� projects swell Maryland's budget"

Bill Milner said:
After looking at this list, I hope I never hear the phrase "Separation of Church and State" again.

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2:56 PM MST on Thu., Apr. 10, 2008 re: "�Pork� projects swell Maryland's budget"

Examiner Reader said:
Thanks, E ! This is the only REAL paper in Baltimore.

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2:04 PM MST on Thu., Apr. 10, 2008 re: "CASA does not deserve tax dollars"

Examiner Reader said:
Hear, Hear!

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1:43 PM MST on Thu., Apr. 10, 2008 re: "CASA does not deserve tax dollars"

Examiner Reader said:
I don't want my tax dollars going towards illegals

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1:41 PM MST on Thu., Apr. 10, 2008 re: "Evil millionaires latest tax casualty"

Examiner Reader said:
wawawa..trade your million dollars and tax bracket for my 50,000 a year.

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1:04 PM MST on Thu., Apr. 10, 2008 re: "CASA does not deserve tax dollars"

Examiner Reader said:
I want to express my thanks and appreciation to The Examiner for providing us with the information contained in its article entitled "'Pork' Projects Swell Maryland's Budget." As a subscriber to The Sun and an on-line reader of the Washington Post, such important and pertinent information is never provided to the taxpayers by those papers. It is too bad that the average Maryland voter is so ignorant that (a) they won't bother to read and study the information you provide; and (b) because of their ignorance, they will continue to vote for the same derelicts in the next election. Perhaps one day the people in Maryland will wake up and see the light, but I don't think any of us should hold our breath for that. Again, thank you very much. A. Klemmsen

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12:36 PM MST on Thu., Apr. 10, 2008 re: "�Pork� projects swell Maryland's budget"

Examiner Reader said:
Examiner Reader 12:31. Yes there is a form to fill out. Its a ballot, you'll fill one out (like myself) when you vote these crooks out of office.

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12:31 PM MST on Thu., Apr. 10, 2008 re: "�Pork� projects swell Maryland's budget"

Examiner Reader said:
I think there's been some mistake. I was supposed to be one of the 83% of Marylander that wasn't going to have my taxes raised under an O'Malley administration. Yet, I seem to have less in my pocket after taxes. Who do I call to have my former standard of living reinstated, to the level I enjoyed before he took office? Is there a form to fill out? Any help is appreciated.

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10:43 AM MST on Thu., Apr. 10, 2008 re: "CASA does not deserve tax dollars"

d squared said:
It has been said that CAS deserves the tax dollars of the citizens of MD. I would completly disagree, tax dollars should not be GIVEN to organizations that have admitted that they assist and will continue to assist people that are breaking the law. you cannot chose which laws are good and which are bad. any employer that refuses to pay anyone because thay are illegally in the US is breaking two laws. 1 hiring a person that they know are here illegally 2 not paying the person for the work that they have done. Should CASA choose not to "obey" the first law regarding illegal citizens, how can they choose to "enforce" the second one??????????????????????

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10:40 AM MST on Thu., Apr. 10, 2008 re: "�Pork� projects swell Maryland's budget"

Examiner Reader said:
We the people control the government. I know it's hard to believe but we do, especially in times like this. During our next election, we the people must remember these times and vote all these people out of office. This is what happens when you have career politicians making laws that effect normal people. We need normal people in office. Yet, I�m not convinced that we will vote these jokers out. The general public has to short of a memory and is too uninformed. It�s easier to complain about actions rather then react accordingly. Great article Examiner, thank you for the good reporting. Please keep up the good work. We the people need to be informed.

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10:27 AM MST on Thu., Apr. 10, 2008 re: "�Pork� projects swell Maryland's budget"

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