Maine Fails In Ratings Of Lawmakers Integrity

Maybe that seems like a big headline but for those that really understand it isn't.

So what does Integrity really mean:

in⋅teg⋅ri⋅ty

  /ɪnˈtɛgrɪti/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [in-teg-ri-tee] Show IPA

Use integrity in a Sentence

–noun

1.	adherence to moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral character; honesty.

2.	the state of being whole, entire, or undiminished: to preserve the integrity of the empire.

3.	a sound, unimpaired, or perfect condition: the integrity of a ship's hull.

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Origin:
1400–50; late ME integrite < class="ital-inline">integritās. See integer, -ity

Synonyms:
1. rectitude, probity, virtue. See honor.

Antonyms:
1. dishonesty.

The following are excerpts from today's Bangor Daily News on an investigation done recently by: http://www.publicintegrity.org/investigations/states_of_disclosure/

"A decade ago, Maine ranked 33rd among the states. In this study, the state dropped to 41st in the nation, but not because of any changes in state law.

“It’s not that Maine does not require disclosure; it does not require enough disclosure,” the center’s Ginley said.

Bill Buzenberg, executive director of the Center for Public Integrity, said clarity in existing requirements is as important as requiring disclosure.

“There is an attempt, in some cases, to hide that information by putting [it] in the name of a spouse,” he said. “Were that disclosed, it would be seen as a conflict of interest with the legislator.”

Buzenberg said a significant area where Maine fell short was in the disclosure of real property holdings. State law requires no disclosure of any type by members of the Legislature or their spouses.

“Most of the states in the country disclose that information,” he said.” Maine is among only a dozen that don’t.”"

So how can we expect anything different in our local government. We can't.

Stay tuned for more to come about Lisbon's failure of Integrity.