By Bob Katzen

The Senate 6-33, rejected an amendment giving the state auditor the power to access state employees’ credit card records “to ensure integrity and accountability of employee credit card usage.”

“I support the auditor accessing state credits cards to ensure transparency and accountability of taxpayer money,” said Sen. Ryan Fattman (R-Webster), a co-sponsor of the amendment. “I’ve seen stories of extravagant spending at some agencies and shining a light on that spending permits legislators to make better decisions in the state budgetary process.”

Amendment opponents said the state auditor already has all the statutory authority she needs to complete these audits and argued this amendment is duplicative and unnecessary.