Disclosure should apply to all
Published 12:00 am Saturday, May 4, 2002
Ventura has threatened to veto a bill that would require him to divulge his personal income.
The House adopted a bill on Wednesday, 93-30, that would require the governor and four other members of the State Board of Investment to reveal all outside income.
Ventura said he believes the bill is unconstitutional and a personal attack.
Earlier this week, Ventura rankled legislative members with the closing of the governor's mansion. This is just one more example of the three legislative bodies' inability to work together.
Ventura said the bill should apply to all legislative leaders. But an amendment, that would apply the same standard to all lawmakers, died in the House.
Anytime legislative members use state money to further their personal gain they should be made to account to taxpayers. Such policy should include every elected official.
Ventura is right.
He said he would support a bill if it applied to all state leaders and that he would veto the bill as it stands.
The Senate has yet to vote on the bill. If they approve and Ventura vetoes, he said he would take an override of his veto to court.
This time the House and Senate should step up and be counted. They should include themselves in this disclosure bill or drop it completely.