Alan Olsen is the Big Mind of the Day

Oregon State Senator Alan Olsen is a Republican. Astoundingly, he is also for true transparency in government. Go figure!

According to the Oregonian, Olsen has repeatedly introduced a bill in the legislature that would require lawmakers to put their names on proposed amendments. As he says: “Bottom line: If you're willing to write an amendment, you should be willing to put your name on it.”

It’s sort of incredible that this isn’t already the case. But there are loads of “mystery bills”: proposed legislation with unknown sponsors and anonymous amendments. So who’s to know what special interest has a thumb in the pie?

This is a cowardly, underhanded, duplicitous system, yes? Yet there are plenty of politicians who “say the anonymity afforded by committee-sponsored bills allows lawmakers to focus on policies rather than politics or personalities.”

Right.

Olsen gets the last word: “If you're proud enough to write it, you should be proud enough to put your name on it.”