Vito earns Tribune JEER
In his weekly Cheers & Jeers column, Opinion Editor Marty Trillhaase of the Lewiston Tribune gives JEERS to … Rep. Vito Barbieri, R-Dalton Gardens:
He’s trying to pull down the shades over Idaho’s Legislature.
Not that he needs a lot of help.
You’re not entitled to know how a legislator earns his living. So you’re never completely sure whether he’s acting in your best interests - or his.
Idaho has no independent ethics commission watchdogging legislative misbehavior. The politicians police themselves.
You’re locked out of the House and Senate caucus meetings - where the real action often occurs.
The Open Meetings Law does not apply to the Legislature. Your access to committee meetings is a matter of privilege, not right.
One tool you have is Idaho’s Public Records Act. Under it, public officials - including legislators - must hand over email and other communications upon request.
That opens a window on bills legislators are considering and who they’re consulting. More here.
* This story was originally published as a post from the blog "Huckleberries Online." Read all stories from this blog