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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Parker Lacoste OSPRI: WE NEED YOUR VOTE! July 13, 2009
Providence, RI - Last week the Ocean State Policy Research Institute unveiled a new website, RI Stimulus Watch (www.ristimulus.org), which keeps track of all federal stimulus funds coming into Rhode Island for various projects and provides a forum for users to express their support or opposition to these projects. The website features a "wiki" format that allows users to insert and edit descriptions for the projects. Now, the Ocean State Policy Research Institute is asking the taxpayers of Rhode Island to go to the website and get involved. "We've created this website to not only track how the stimulus funds are being spent, but to serve as an online town hall meeting for the entire state," said Bill Felkner, President of OSPRI. "The taxpayers now have a way to make their opinions heard and show their support or opposition by 'voting' for or against these projects. Now we need your vote!" OSPRI plans to reach out to elected officials across the state to inform them of the RI Stimulus Watch website and encourage them to pay attention to the feedback and comments that are posted. "Our goal is bring the voters and the elected officials together," Felkner said. "Lobbyists should not control our government, we, the people, should control our government. It's time for officials to stop listening with their wallets and start listening with their ears." About OSPRI:
Created in 2007, our work is focused on crafting sound public policy based on the principles of free enterprise, limited government, and traditional American values. We offer timely research and analysis on important issues to be shared with elected officials, the media, business leaders, community organizations and individual citizens. In recent months, we have been responsible for such successful projects as the Transparency Train - A public financial and legislative information repository, as well as regular updates published and available on our website and companion blog. About The Transparency Train: The Transparency Train Web Portal (www.transparencytrain.org) provides access to a variety of websites designed to present public information in a Google-style searchable format. These sites include: RI Data which contains every budget, payroll, public employee contract and monthly check register for all cities, towns and school districts in Rhode Island. RI Votes which is an online database of legislation and voting records. LRB Watch provides analysis and available information on the State Labor Relations Board.
RI Schools is an interactive website that allows viewers to create comparative graphs of school districts plotting various metrics such as cost per student, test scores and the number of employees (coming Spring 2009). RI Donors will contain a "connect the dots" approach to viewing political and lobbying finances (coming Fall 2009). Take Action, a "how-to" manual that shows citizens how to file Freedom Of Information Act requests for public information and what to do if they don't comply. ###
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