La. lags behind others in financial disclosure for officials

(AP) Louisiana receives high marks from a government watchdog group for financial disclosure requirements it imposes on its governor and gubernatorial candidates, but the state lags behind most others in other financial disclosure requirements.

The Center for Public Integrity ranks Louisiana third-best in the nation for the level of disclosure required of governors and governor’s candidates.

But when it comes to opening the personal ledgers of individual legislators, Louisiana ranks 44th, according to the Center for Public Integrity.

Louisiana is one of five states that do not require other officials elected statewide to file personal disclosure statements. Louisiana is one of nine states, the only one in the South,

that does not require some financial disclosure by non-elected executive branch appointees that run regulatory agencies and departments, according to an analysis published Monday by The Advocate newspaper of Baton Rouge.

Louisiana legislators are required only to file annual reports disclosing income they or their spouse receive from state and local governments and gambling interests.

Some business and civic leaders are making the failure of Louisiana to include more officials under the disclosure umbrella an issue with candidates during the current state election season.

“We just don’t think a state with our reputation can afford to have that kind of gap,” said Baton Rouge Area Chamber CEO Stephen Moret, who led the LA Ethics 1 failed effort during the 2007 legislative session to require legislators to expose their personal finances.