From the Boston Herald — Originally published Thursday, July 23

Like other states Massachusetts is rolling in federal stimulus money but plans for oversight of that spending remain largely on the drawing board. That is one of the conclusions of a Government Accountability Office report released this month.

As the State House News Service reported this week, neither the state auditor nor the inspector general has finalized plans for oversight of state Recovery Act funds, more than $1 billion of which is already committed.

… Now, in fairness, the feds are asking the states to spend money they don’t have. Wouldn’t it be nice if the $787 billion stimulus bill had included a few crumbs for oversight, given that it represents a bailout for cash-strapped states — the largest of which is presently issuing IOUs for state services.

… [A]t the very least the GAO, which is monitoring Massachusetts and 15 other states over the life of the stimulus act, has provided a gentle reminder to taxpayers that they deserve a full, honest and transparent accounting of how their money is being spent — and that watchdogs need sharp teeth.