Hawai'i's H.B. 122 is modeled after federal legislation enacted last year, cosponsored by Sens. Tom Coburn (R-OK) and Barack Obama (D-IL), according to the National Taxpayers Union.

Despite the fact that H.B. 122 passed both chambers overwhelmingly two months ago, the bill became law without the signature of Gov. Linda Lingle. The law will allow general public to use the Internet to track the flow of state grant and contract disbursements.

"The Aloha State now joins several others in the belief that transparency is vital to good governance," said Andrew Moylan, NTU's Government Affairs Manager. "Hopefully, Gov. Lingle will come to agree with the Legislature that disclosure of state spending is an important and necessary tool for accountability."