PA Treasurer Unveils State Government Contracts Online Database

Created in accordance with new Right-to-Know law, provides increased
government transparency

HARRISBURG, Pa., July 22 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Pennsylvania Treasurer
Robin L. Wiessmann today publicly unveiled a searchable database that allows
the public greater access to state government contract information through the
Pennsylvania Treasury Department's Web site, patreasury.org.

The Treasury Department created the Contracts e-Library in response to the
Right-to-Know Law, which dramatically revised prior Pennsylvania law
regulating the rights of the public to obtain information from government
about its activities. The new law, signed by Governor Rendell on February 14,
2008, expands the information available to the public, establishes a
presumption in favor of disclosure, and creates an Office of Open Records to
facilitate any disputes about disclosure of information. In addition, the new
law enlarges the number of government agencies, boards, commissions and other
bodies that are subject to requirements to make information available to the
public.

"Since taking office as Pennsylvania Treasurer, I have been committed to
making the Commonwealth's financial information and operations more accessible
to all Pennsylvanians," Treasurer Wiessmann said. "We are pleased to offer
this new free, online service as part of our commitment to bringing good
governance and transparency into all of our day-to-day operations."

The information to populate the Pennsylvania Contracts e-Library will be
uploaded into the system by each state government agency. While the
Pennsylvania Treasury Department will be responsible for the system's
infrastructure and maintenance, the agencies are ultimately responsible for
providing contract information for the database.

To aid in public use of the database, the Pennsylvania Treasury Department is
requiring agencies to supply summaries with every contract for easier access
and identification. In addition, when searching for a contract, the
Pennsylvania Contracts e-Library will also provide links to any related
contracts, such as amendments or purchase orders, to allow users to more
readily track the evolution of an agency's transactions with a particular
vendor.

The Pennsylvania Treasury Department launched the Pennsylvania Contracts
e-Library in just four months by holding focus groups with users and building
the online portal for the database. The additional requirements of the new
law are not scheduled to take effect until Jan. 1, 2009.

"The passage of the Right-to-Know Law earlier this year was an important step
toward boosting the public's trust in government during a time of increasing
scrutiny," Governor Rendell said. "The Pennsylvania Contracts e-Library is the
first of many action items from that law that will make our operations more
accessible, and will continue to break down the barriers between Pennsylvania
citizens and government."

The unveiling of the Pennsylvania Contracts e-Library was announced at a press
conference in the Capitol Rotunda with Treasurer Wiessmann, several state
legislators and other key stakeholders in attendance.

The Pennsylvania Treasury Department, under the leadership of Treasurer Robin
L. Wiessmann, is a leader in changing the way treasuries do business. The
Department and its employees are accountable for safeguarding the financial
assets of all Pennsylvanians, serving as custodian, investors and disbursers
of the Commonwealth's funds. Treasury also helps Pennsylvanians achieve
financial success through a variety of programs and services like the
Unclaimed Property program, the nowU College Savings Program, the KeystoneHELP
low-interest loan program, and the INVEST program for local governments and
nonprofits. For more information about Treasurer Wiessmann and the
Pennsylvania Treasury Department, visit www.patreasury.org.

CONTACT:Carrie Fischer Lepore
(717) 787-2991
news@patreasury.org

SOURCE Pennsylvania Treasury Department

Carrie Fischer Lepore of the Pennsylvania Treasury Department,
+1-717-787-2991, news@patreasury.org