For over two years, we've asked California's chief financial officer for "any" and "all" line-by-line state vendor payments. But, two Comptrollers - John Chiang and currently Betty Yee, told us: stop asking because the records aren't accessible.  

 

Really?  That's not just a lame excuse; it's a violation of the law. Any controller that can make payments has the ability to track payments.  

 

The CA Controller is not only in charge of paying the bills, but also all state accounting, bookkeeping, payroll, and auditing of all state operations - including financial and compliance audits and attestations.  They are dutifully charged with tracking for "every dollar spent by the state."

 

There is no dispute that the CA Controller pays millions of bills annually. Their website admits the vast scope of activity: 

But, earlier this month General Counsel Rick Chivaro told us: "... Consequently, because of the way the claims are batched and processed by this office, we are unable to locate or otherwise provide you with the documents requested." What?

 

Read our Forbes editorial, Our Battle to End California's Transparency Drought click here.

 

California isn't the only state that has played games with open records laws.  

 

In 2012, Illinois Republican Comptroller Judy Baar-Topinka tried to block our Freedom of Information Act request for the state spending record saying sarcastically, "the state doesn't have a 'magical checkbook'."  

 

 

While California residents and taxpayers can view 4.63 million federal, state, and local salary and pension records, the California checkbook remains hidden.  Visit OpenTheBooks.com:

 

 

It's long past time to end California's transparency drought. It's time for the California Controller to "Open the Books."

 

Read our Forbes editorial, Our Battle to End California's Transparency Drought click here.