Deseret News | Reader comments: Herbert's new Web site promotes government transparency

Reader comments
Herbert's site promotes transparency

Private Public Person | 1:53 p.m. May 19, 2009

As a public employee, I hope that my salary and other private information is protected. There are reasonable limits. Public employees work very hard and are dedicated to public service. They should enjoy the same protections as employees in the private sector.

Navyvet | 2:05 p.m. May 19, 2009

actually, "Private", if you are a public employee your salary is a matter of public record if anyone were really interested enough to look it up.

TO Private Public Person | 2:33 p.m. May 19, 2009

As a taxpayer, I have every right to know how much a public employee earns. I'm also a State employee and I have no problem with my salary being made public as long as my ss # is protected.

Comments continue below

former state employee | 2:37 p.m. May 19, 2009

sorry sweetheart, your salary is already listed on the Utah's Right to Know website and has been for more than a year

Current State Employee | 2:51 p.m. May 19, 2009

The taxpayer is my boss and has every right to know what I earn and has been able to access that information for some time now. I have no issues with that.

new gov. | 6:09 a.m. May 20, 2009

New gov. will act just like the old ones. No transparency. Utah is a theocracy. Secrets will be protected. Power will be preserved and reserved.

There will be the usual politics, screaming, pushing, shoving... but the tribe will still be in charge behind the scenes.

Nothing new is coming, folks. Move along.

The Proof is in the Pudding: | 7:40 a.m. May 20, 2009

I tried it. It works very well. Except: I found that if I go to other departments, I can find how much people in those offices were reimbursed for in-state or out-of-state travel expenses by name. For example, Dianne Nielson of the Governor's Energy Office spent $X.00 on hotels, etc. However, if you go to the Lt. Governor's office, we see that Gary Herbert has never been reimbursed for anything - his name doesn't even show up. That's very curious - very curious indeed. I don't believe that he has not travelled at all in the past two years, nor do I believe that he has never been reimbursed for hotels, cars, gas, food, etc. Therefore, I also don't believe this "transparent" site.

former state employee | 2:23 p.m. May 20, 2009

I recently left the state, and I had a lot of my friends look up my salary online. It was kind of embarrassing because I didnt make very much money and they would joke that I must really like my job or else I wouldnt work for so little. Well now I work in the private sector and make a lot more money. I wish my new salary was posted somewhere for my friends to see :)

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