Pennsylvania launches govt. e-library.

• Author: Swartz, Nikki
• Position: UP FRONT - Brief article

Pennsylvania has launched a website that features a database of government contracts that is open to the public.

State Treasurer Robin L. Wiessmann said Pennsylvania's new right-to-know law required creation of the database, known as the Pennsylvania Contracts e-Library and available at www.treasurypa.org.

The open records law, signed in February, increases public access to government records. Most of the law won't take effect until January.

"The more transparent we are, the more accountable we become," Wiessmann told The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "The public needs and deserves to know how operations are being conducted."

She said "virtually all" government departments are required to post their contracts with private companies in the database. This includes legislative, executive, and judicial departments. The Post-Gazette reported that lawmakers granted a few exemptions to certain departments, like the Department of Justice, that wanted...