Putting government data online

published 4/7/2009

A pair of bills that would put more government data online and make it easy to search might be included in the omnibus state government finance bill.

HF625, sponsored by Rep. Paul Gardner (DFL-Shoreview), would require that the state’s accounting and procurement system include software that uses an application programming interface. Using this API, members of the public could access data on state contracts, appropriations and expenditures in an open electronic format.

Gardner said the idea is to allow third parties to develop applications using the data. For example, he said someone might use state databases to develop an analysis of the relationship between inflation and the state’s tax system.

Similarly, HF20, sponsored by Rep. Ryan Winkler (DFL-Golden Valley), would direct Minnesota Management and Budget to maintain a Web site with a searchable database of information on state contracts, expenditures and tax information.

Winkler said a similar Web site launched this week by MMB is difficult to use and is only accessible to users of Microsoft Internet Explorer. He said the bill’s provisions are modeled after a Web site maintained by the state of Missouri, which allows users more search options.

Both bills were laid over by the House State Government Finance Division for possible inclusion in its omnibus finance bill. Sen. Ann Rest (DFL-New Hope) sponsors SF91, the companion to HF20. It has been incorporated into SF2, sponsored by Sen. Richard Cohen (DFL-St. Paul). HF625 has no Senate companion.

- Nick Busse