Remember that legal defense fund of Ernie Fletcher’s that he so fervently refused to discuss? He’s due to report the names of contributors to that fund on January 10. A full two months after the election. A full two months after that information would have been useful.

Rep. Darryl Owens and others in Frankfort are now working toward legislation that would require great transparency and more frequent reporting of governors who establish defense funds. It’s something current governor Steve Beshear says he supports and something almost no one could argue against.

FRANKFORT, Ky. — Governors who set up legal defense funds would be required to file periodic reports listing the donors and the amounts they contribute under a proposal that will go to lawmakers next month.

“I think people have a right to know who’s giving,” said state Rep. Darryl Owens, D-Louisville, who is sponsoring the legislation. “This basically allows more transparency in terms of who is contributing.”
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The proposal also would bar anyone who works for state government from contributing to such a fund, a move intended to prevent elected officials from pressuring people to give.

Owens’ proposal would require governors and other officeholders to report on a quarterly basis the names and contributions of those supporting legal defense funds. During election years the frequency and amount of reports would be doubled.