OUR VIEW

Secrecy clause hurts state ethics bill

    DART — To state lawmakers who are fast-tracking a bill to create a General Accountability Office in hopes of streamlining possible ethics violations and making the investigation process more consistent. What’s wrong with that? Not much. But this otherwise promising piece of legislation is seriously marred by a clause that would make it a crime punishable by hefty fines and jail time to share information. That’s an absurd notion that would create skepticism and erode public confidence, defeating the very purpose of the Accountability Board. The public’s business should not be conducted in private. And well-meaning officials should not be criminally charged for disscussing or even acknowledging the existence of an investigation.

    LAUREL — To two wonderful women who continued giving of their time to help others long after most people their age had become the recipients, not the providers, of volunteer services. Bea Lundgren, 88, and Louise Bishop, 91, made the last of their Meals on Wheels deliveries last week after 25 years of bringing meals to elderly and disabled residents. The two women set out together every Tuesday, delivering meals to as many as 14 houses a day. Over time, they got to know many of their clients and became fixtures at Kenosha Area Family and Aging Services. Explaining their friendship and common desire to help others, Louise said simply, “Volunteer work is the tie that binds.” We thank these two women for their years of community service and wish them well in “retirement.”

    DART — To state officials unable or unwilling to implement strong tobacco prevention measures. The results of a recent American Lung Association Report were disappointing, if not surprising. Wisconsin received 3 “F”s and 2 “D”s on smokingrelated issues, prompting an official with the state branch of the association to say, “The grades indicate that on a statewide level, there hasn’t been a lot of change.” To fare better in next year’s report, Wisconsin must increase its cigarette tax, which currently is below the national average, spend more on smoking prevention programs and encourage more tobacco-free workplaces.

    LAUREL — To Tremper High School students and educators who are helping bring music back to McDonogh High School in New Orleans. The Tremper community sent about 9,000 pounds of books to McDonogh in November to help the school’s Katrina-devastated library and is now collecting instruments and music supplies for the school. You can help. Tremper is accepting instruments and supplies through Jan. 26, when a collection day will be held in the school’s commons. In addition to playable instruments, organizers are looking for music stands, instruction books and cash donations for sheet music. How about it? Dust off that old instrument and donate it to a worthy cause. The Tremper folks would appreciate your support, but not nearly as much as McDonogh music students.