 |
|
|
|
|
| 5/7/2009 12:58:00 PM | Email this article • Print this article | IN SUNSHINE OR IN SHADOWS?
Hoskins argues to decrease what city politicians disclose
Jack Miles
Editor
Jefferson City - Politicians in 61 cities, including Knob Noster, need not disclose potential conflicts of interest under a Senate bill Rep. Denny Hoskins manages in the House.
Knob Noster Mayor Stan Hall said he opposes the measure.
"I do not find these forms particularly burdensome and I do not mind filling them out," Hall, who owns the Knob Noster Item newspaper, said Tuesday. "I am a newspaper person and I think this type of disclosure is valuable."
The Missouri Press Association opposed similar legislation in past years and is reviewing this year's version, MPA Director Doug Crews said Monday.
"We will take a look at it," Crews said Monday.
Current law requires elected officials, candidates for elective office and certain other officials of a political subdivision - with an operating budget exceeding $1 million - to file financial interest statements. Potential conflicts involve various jobs: a real estate agent running for council may have an interest in selling land to the city; a developer, who needs zoning changes, could affect zoning as a council member; or a banker would have an interest in where public funds are deposited.
Under Sen. Delbert Scott's bill, the disclosure limit doubles to $2 million, meaning fewer people would have to reveal potential conflicts of interest.
Hoskins on Tuesday said the bill reduces requirements that could discourage people considering running for office.
"These are voluntary positions that are unpaid positions and therefore I don't believe they need to divulge their personal financial information," he said.
Although there may be potential conflicts for people taking council seats, Hoskins said, they still fall under state ethics laws.
"Most towns have a conflict of interest policy that they would just follow," he said.
Filling out forms could take time, Hoskins said.
"It depends on how much financial interest that you have," he said. "They could (spend an hour) if they have several different businesses or rental property or stocks, sit on the boards of different things."
Asked whether the disclosure better serves the public, Hoskins said, "Having that personal financial disclosure is a disincentive to run for these volunteer positions and lots of times ... it's hard to find people to run to begin with and since they are unpaid positions I don't feel they should have disclose all their personal financial information."
Rep. Trent Skaggs, D-North Kansas City, said all elected officials should support transparency in government and the current threshold is too high, not too low.
"Anybody ought to have to disclose any conflicts of interest. I think the million dollars is too high," Skaggs said, which is what the public wants. "Nobody anywhere in the country anywhere is crying, 'We need less disclosure.' Everybody right now is on the same page that we need more disclosure."
Hoskins said he does not know anyone who has not run for office as a result of having to fill out the form.
The measure is expected to reach the House floor this week.
"It's a consent bill ... and so hopefully there will not be a lot of discussion or debate on the House floor," he said.
|
Article Comment Submission Form
|
|
|
|
|
