October 20, 2008

Stevens disregards definition of disclosure

Disclose \dis-kloz\: to open up, to expose to view, to make known or public

Apparently, Senator Ted Stevens is missing the point of the financial disclosure forms he fills out (or doesn't) every year.

Twice this week, Stevens' defense team argued in a motion that there is no "public interest in disclosure or public 'right to know.'" However, the purpose of the financial disclosure form is to disclose, monitor and deter conflicts of interest, thereby maintaining public confidence in the integrity of the Senate and its Members. Unbelievably, Stevens is arguing the public is not entitled to this information, and saying they are is "inflammatory and highly prejudicial."

"It is mind boggling that a Senator would argue that disclosure is not in the public interest," said Bethany Lesser, spokeswoman for the Alaska Democratic Party. "Senator Stevens is in essence saying he doesn't need to be open and transparent with his own constituents. But if Stevens lied on his Financial Disclosure Forms for seven straight years, then he also lied to Alaskans for seven straight years. As a public official, Stevens should realize that the public always has a right to know and that it's not okay to withhold information from Alaska families."

From a Alaska Democratic Party press release