Disclosure Exemptions Are Few

The state has only granted three exemptions from its requirements for public disclosure of the financial interests of high level public officials.

According to the Fair Political Practices Commission, they are for the California Commission on the Fair Administration of Justice, the Medication Errors Panel and the California Alliance to Combat Trafficking and Slavery Task Force.

The regulation permitting exemptions is relatively new, adopted only on Jan. 28 of this year.

The California Stem Cell Report has attempted for several days to determine who was directly responsible for placing the exemption issue on the agenda of the Citizens Financial Accountability Oversight Committee. We have been shuttled between the state controller's office and the Department of Justice without receiving a forthright answer, which may attest to the sensitivity of the issue.

But presumably state Controller Steve Westly put the matter before the committee. He is chair of the committee in question and has control of the agenda.