OREGON HOUSE REPUBLICANS

REPUBLICANS MAKE LAST PUSH FOR ACCOUNTABILITY

IN STATE AGENCIES AND AUDITING

Democrats Reject Measure to Conduct Performance Reviews for Second Straight Session

SALEM—House Republicans today sought to advance a bill to create a Legislative Audits Office within the Oregon Legislature to conduct performance and management audits of state agencies and other state-funded programs. Though House Bill 2440 would increase accountability and legislative oversight of state government, Democrats rejected bringing the bill to a vote and further debate.

“The Legislature needs to have better oversight and the ability to conduct performance audits on state agencies,” said Rep. Kim Thatcher (R-Keizer, Newberg, St. Paul), the bill’s Chief Sponsor. “If the Legislature is going to write budgets for these agencies, we should have the information we need to make the right decisions and help make state government more efficient and effective.”

HB 2440 does not create a new agency or require new state employees because the bill would transfer a portion of staff from the Secretary of State’s Audits Division to the Legislative Audits Office. In addition to conducting management and performance audits, the office would be responsible for managing the Government Waste Hotline to investigate complaints about government waste and abuse.

“The State Treasurer’s failure to protect the college savings of Oregon families is yet another example of why the Legislature needs an audits office,” Rep. Thatcher said. “Oregon is the only state without an auditing function in its legislature. As a result, the Legislature repeatedly fails to address state government’s mismanagement of programs, services and Oregonians’ tax dollars.”

This is the second consecutive session that Democrats have rejected creating a Legislative Audits Office. However, House Republican Leader Bruce Hanna (R-Roseburg) said Republicans will continue to fight for more accountability and transparency in state government.

“The Legislature’s failure to address Oregon’s high unemployment means we’ll continue to struggle generating the tax revenue needed to fund core programs and services,” Rep. Hanna said. “With such limited resources, we need the tools to ensure tax dollars are being spent wisely.  Though Democrats have rejected creating a Legislative Audits Office, we’ll persist in pushing this legislation until it becomes law.”

Restructuring Oregon's auditing process, allowing the legislature to better monitor the spending and performance is a key part of Building a Better Oregon, the House Republicans’ 2009 agenda.

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