Politicians May Have To Reveal Income Under Proposed Bill

The panel proposed that lawmakers, statewide elected and appointed officials and locally elected officials -- perhaps with an exemption for those serving jurisdictions with fewer than 5,000 people -- be required to disclose the same information that the governor and candidates for that office must make public under existing law.

That document details employment, property holdings, investments, debts and business associations and directorships of a filer and spouse. The information is reported in six financial ranges.

Current law requires legislators to disclose only income they receive from government entities and from gambling interests regulated by the state. There is no disclosure required of the six statewide officeholders other than the governor, from statewide appointed officials or from any local authorities. Jindal has signed an executive order extending the disclosure requirements to his Cabinet, though that group will not have to file its first forms until Jan. 15, 2009.