IDAHO HOUSE: Accountability, or secrecy?

The Idaho House of Representatives exists because of the people, but some of our local officials seem to have forgotten that. Rep. Vito Barbieri of Dalton Gardens recently introduced House Resolution 27, a “secrecy bill” that would keep ethics investigations against lawmakers hidden from the public unless a committee votes unanimously to release them.

Why are our representatives so eager to hide their conduct? In any other workplace, and for any regular citizen, a “sex charge” or serious misconduct is a matter of public record. Yet, Barbieri and his supporters want a “VIP secret trial” for politicians. This is especially disturbing given that Barbieri previously wrote a letter describing former Rep. Aaron von Ehlinger — who was later convicted of rape — as an “upstanding person.”

While we are seeing critical programs for parole and reentry being cut due to “budgetary constraints,” our leaders are prioritizing their own reputations over our right to know who is representing us. Our local reps, including Joe Alfieri and Elaine Price, must answer for whether they value their colleagues’ privacy more than the transparency they swore to uphold.

Government business should be done in the light. When you hide the truth, you destroy public trust. It’s time we remind these officials that their power comes from the people, not from secret committees.

COLIN JAMES STAPLES

Dalton Gardens