Batt: Future Leaders Should Disclose Assets

Last month, Gov. Phil Batt made an unprecedented disclosure of his personal assets and net worth, and placed his holdings into a blind trust while he is governor.

He said Friday it wouldn’t be a bad idea to require all future governors to make a similar disclosure.

“I wouldn’t object to such a law,” he said Friday, during the taping of the weekend “Viewpoint” program on KTVB.

“It might not be a bad idea to require the chief executive to give a financial statement. I see nothing which would infringe on his rights doing that,” he said.

Batt said he would not favor a law requiring the governor to make public several years of income tax returns.

“I think that’s another matter. They are very personal in nature and involve a lot of other people,” Batt said. “I would not favor a bill which would require that.”

Batt disclosed last month that he and his wife Jacque own farmland and other assets that could be worth up to $1.6 million, and said his net worth is close to that amount. He placed his holdings into a blind trust and said he would sell 400 shares of Idaho Power Co. common stock.

The new GOP governor said he did that to carry out a campaign promise.