Comments on: Is it important that lawmakers disclose their personal finances to the public? http://www.idahofallstoday.com/2009/06/25/how-important-is-it-that-lawmakers-disclose-their-personal-finances-to-the-public/ Local Discussion. Read by thousands every month! Idaho Falls, Ammon, and East Idaho Fri, 19 Mar 2010 05:45:23 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Alice http://www.idahofallstoday.com/2009/06/25/how-important-is-it-that-lawmakers-disclose-their-personal-finances-to-the-public/#comment-32681 Alice Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:46:25 +0000 http://www.idahofallstoday.com/?p=2239#comment-32681 I'm not sure I want to know any more about their finances than I want to know what goes on in their bedroom (which I REALLY don't want to know about). Aside from comment #3 regarding voting on things that would benefit them personally, I can't think of any reason we would need to know about their finances. Of course, I wouldn't be the least bit surprised to find that most politicians push things that would benefit their own lives. It would be interesting to know if any of them obviously push an issue that would be detrimental to their own lives. If they are doing a good job, I really don't care about their personal lives. But, we generally don't even hear about their personal lives (at least anything negative) till they screw up. I’m not sure I want to know any more about their finances than I want to know what goes on in their bedroom (which I REALLY don’t want to know about).

Aside from comment #3 regarding voting on things that would benefit them personally, I can’t think of any reason we would need to know about their finances.

Of course, I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised to find that most politicians push things that would benefit their own lives. It would be interesting to know if any of them obviously push an issue that would be detrimental to their own lives.

If they are doing a good job, I really don’t care about their personal lives. But, we generally don’t even hear about their personal lives (at least anything negative) till they screw up.

]]> By: Guest 2 http://www.idahofallstoday.com/2009/06/25/how-important-is-it-that-lawmakers-disclose-their-personal-finances-to-the-public/#comment-32675 Guest 2 Thu, 02 Jul 2009 15:57:08 +0000 http://www.idahofallstoday.com/?p=2239#comment-32675 I think they should disclose their personal finances since they have the power to make laws that directly benefit themselves financially. The next best thing would be to have them excuse themselves from voting on bills in which they have a personal interest, and somebody making sure that they do so. I think they should disclose their personal finances since they have the power to make laws that directly benefit themselves financially. The next best thing would be to have them excuse themselves from voting on bills in which they have a personal interest, and somebody making sure that they do so.

]]> By: Marcus http://www.idahofallstoday.com/2009/06/25/how-important-is-it-that-lawmakers-disclose-their-personal-finances-to-the-public/#comment-32650 Marcus Wed, 01 Jul 2009 22:55:22 +0000 http://www.idahofallstoday.com/?p=2239#comment-32650 No, they shouldn't be required to disclose their <b>personal</b> finances to the public. If they're doing a good job with <b>my tax money</b>, I could care less about how they spend their own or whether or not they pay their taxes correctly. Audits happen, and it will catch up to them. No, they shouldn’t be required to disclose their personal finances to the public. If they’re doing a good job with my tax money, I could care less about how they spend their own or whether or not they pay their taxes correctly. Audits happen, and it will catch up to them.

]]> By: The Gadsden http://www.idahofallstoday.com/2009/06/25/how-important-is-it-that-lawmakers-disclose-their-personal-finances-to-the-public/#comment-32606 The Gadsden Mon, 29 Jun 2009 20:51:18 +0000 http://www.idahofallstoday.com/?p=2239#comment-32606 Yes and no. Yes, because it shows transparency. It helps voters and taxpayers to increase their trust of elected officials. It helps provide us with confidence that there is not a conflict of interest when an elected votes a particular way. No, because it intrudes on their lives. As it is now, many folks chose not to seek public office because of the scrutiny that comes with it. I fear we are losing out on having good, quality people seek public office because of the intense intrusions into their personal and family lives. I think there must be a balance. Idaho may not be tops on the list, but we suffer less corruption than most states at the top on the survey. Yes and no.

Yes, because it shows transparency. It helps voters and taxpayers to increase their trust of elected officials. It helps provide us with confidence that there is not a conflict of interest when an elected votes a particular way.

No, because it intrudes on their lives. As it is now, many folks chose not to seek public office because of the scrutiny that comes with it. I fear we are losing out on having good, quality people seek public office because of the intense intrusions into their personal and family lives.

I think there must be a balance. Idaho may not be tops on the list, but we suffer less corruption than most states at the top on the survey.

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