Governmental spending transparency is catching on at the state level. Alaska is the latest of ten states to effectively throw its books wide open to anyone with Internet access. The state calls it Checkbook Online, and describes it as such:

The State of Alaska is publishing information from the statewide accounting system on the web. This is part of a national trend for governments to develop websites that allow constituents to view financial information in searchable formats. Such websites are widely considered to improve transparency into the financial operations of government.

Residents of “The Last Frontier” doubtless enjoy being able to see what elected officials are doing with their tax dollars. The rest of us should have it so good.