Morning Read: Vermont an Outlier in Financial Disclosure for Politicians
Anne Galloway over VTDigger.org took a look at how Vermont stacks up nationally in its political candidate financial disclosure requirements. Let's just say it ain't pretty.
Vermont is one of just three states — the other two are Idaho and Michigan — that don't require statewide candidates to reveal where their money's coming from and how it's invested.
Why should we care? Galloway tells us:
Disclosure laws exist to prevent personal financial interests and potential conflicts of interest from having an impact on the way legislation is shaped and the way government operates.
Because Vermont has no financial disclosure requirements, we don't know the extent of candidates' connections to business interests and whether politicians have used the power of political office for personal gain.
Be sure to check out the story.
And while you're hangin' out at Digger, take a gander at Nat Rudarakanchana's piece looking at ongoing negotiations between the state and Hewlett Packard over the Department of Motor Vehicles' piece-of-crap IT system. Rudarakanchana reports that the state could be looking at a fatty refund check sometime soon.
