Binker: Ethics forms should be online

ryanteaguebeckwith — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 15:37:58 -0500

Mark Binker says online sunshine should start with the N.C. Ethics Commission.

The Greensboro News-Record reporter writes Dome from South Carolina, where he's following the presidential race, to point out that the financial disclosure forms are not accessible.

"The documents don't really serve their intended purpose of allowing voters to see potential conflicts if they're sitting in the basement of the (Department of Administration) building," he writes.

The forms list real estate, stocks and corporate ownership that might present conflicts of interest for an elected official. (For an example, click here.)

The offline documents are somewhat accessible to the capital press corps, who are mostly based in Raleigh and have the time and energy to go pay a few dollars to get copies from a clerk.

But Binker points out that the forms are filed by district attorneys, judges and legislators from across the state. Their local reporters, political opponents and interested citizens shouldn't have to drive to Raleigh to get the documents, he says.

Previously: The principles of online sunshine.

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Binker: Ethics forms should be online