I was pleasantly surprised to read an article (Arizona Republic Mar 10, 2009 pg. B1 "Buddy could you help state save $3 billion?") by E. J. Montini this morning that suggested the same idea of putting the budgets on the web for citizen comment.

Here are more details of how I thought this process would work:

1. The budget or stimulus or whatever (aka "package") would be put on the web as a read only spreadsheet; probably in MS Office format.

2. Every person could download a copy to study at home.

3. Every line of the spreadsheet would be numbered (the default) so that citizens could refer to specific lines when voting and/or making comments.

4. To really get a feel for how the public feels, there could a page on the site controlled by the agency that produced the package. Each documented person could log in to that page using their Social Security number or their federal tax id number. They could then type in the line number(s) they are referring to and then select one of three options: 1) veto/delete, 2) keep as is, 3) keep with modifications.

The first two selections would be stored as a "vote" and would be keyed to the id number used to log in. If more than one vote is received for a particular line, then the assumption would be that someone was trying to "stuff the ballot box". This would lead to the "vote" being negated and an email being sent to the owner of the id number, so they could again cast their ballot on that line. An option button for putting in a comment should also be on the "vote" page.

The third option of "keep with modifications" would register a vote and then pop up a comment screen.

All comments for a particular line would then be compiled into a report that could be reviewed on line by the agency that produced the spreadsheet.

5. The net results of all the votes as well as any comments should be made available on the web during the voting process. It should be updated at least daily, and I assume it could even be done in nearly real time.

Tell me what you think.