Illinois' OpenBook site allows users to follow the money

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - The Illinois comptroller's office has created a website to increase government transparency by allowing the public to track political contributions and state contracts.

The website is called OpenBook. Comptroller Leslie Munger's office says it includes a "Google-like" feature allowing users to enter the name of an organization doing business with the state and search political contributions from it or its employees.

It combines information from the comptroller's accounting system with information collected by the Illinois State Board of Elections in one place.

Munger said in a news release Wednesday that she believes "government should be an open book."

She called the site a "true portal of transparency for state government, where every dollar donated to a campaign is recorded and can be traced back to any state contract awarded."

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Online: http://openbook.illinoiscomptroller.gov