Monday, June 29, 2009
Editorial: Financial disclosure rules need revision
Virginia's rules were adequate a decade ago, but other states have surpassed the commonwealth.
From the RoundTable blog
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Ten years ago, Virginia's financial disclosure rules for elected officials were among the strongest in the nation. Today, they are among the weakest and received a failing grade from The Center for Public Integrity.
When lawmakers go to Richmond, they must disclose details of their income and financial holdings as well as their spouse's. The idea is that if citizens know where the conflicts might be, they can ensure their lawmakers do not place personal gain ahead of the public good. If a delegate votes to support legislation to benefit the company that pays his wife's salary, the people can vote him out of office.
Back in 1999, those disclosure rules were enough. Virginia ranked eighth nationally in the Center survey. The problem is that nothing has changed since then. While other states adopted tougher disclosure policies and embraced new technology, the commonwealth stood still. The most recent survey ranks Virginia 31st. The 1999 laws are not good enough in 2009. Virginia lost ground by standing still.
This is not a partisan issue. Politicians of both major political parties loathe bringing additional scrutiny down on themselves. Yet additional scrutiny and access are needed.
When the General Assembly gathers next year, lawmakers should look at what other states have done. Many improvements to the commonwealth's disclosure rules could be easily implemented.
For example, politicians now must reveal what boards they serve on, but only if they are paid for it. Uncompensated board positions are exempt even though they can create nearly as strong a conflict.
Virginia also could make access easier. The commonwealth charges more than 50 cents per page for copies of disclosure records. Kinko's is cheaper. Maybe this is a chance for one of those public-private partnerships lawmakers always are going on about. Maybe even, in the 21st century, those records could go online and be available for free.
If disclosure is going to be Virginia's primary check on corruption by elected officials, then Virginians need the best disclosure possible.
