We hear so much about sneaky lawmakers these days that I thought I'd share some nice refreshing quotes from a couple of Colorado politicians. This week was the filing deadline for financial disclosure statements for city employees, and they include listings of gifts and freebies received. For example, my favorite-named American mayor, Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper, got free U2 tickets. But what I took away from this Rocky Mountain News article is the pleasure of reading politicans speaking favorably about transparency.
Lindy Eichenbaum Lent, the mayor's spokeswoman, said Hickenlooper "feels it goes with the territory" of being an elected official.
"Mayor Hickenlooper firmly believes that transparency is vital to public trust, and public trust is vital to everything that we try to do here in city government," she said.
For gifts, such as tickets and meals, only items worth more than $25 have to be reported. But City Attorney Cole Finegan, who is also the mayor's chief of staff, listed them all...
..."I obviously overdisclosed because I listed all of the breakfasts, lunches and dinners, including those that I paid for and those under $25," he said. "But I wanted to be as open and transparent as possible."
Wow. Wouldn't it be nice to see such attitude at all levels of government, and about all issues - not just those required by law?
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