Openness, oversight

Federal law dictates that Iowa's long-term care ombudsman, an advocate for the state's seniors, be allowed to speak freely on matters of state and federal policy. It's an important law intended to guard the office's independence.

But it appears that's not how it worked in Gov. Chet Culver's Department on Aging. Allegations surfaced in recent weeks that the governor's office and the department's director, John McCalley, tried to limit ombudsman Jeannie Yordi's freedom to comment on state and federal legislation. Amid the fallout that resulted, McCalley resigned and Culver ordered that the ombudsman's post be moved out of the department to insure its independence.

We agree with Culver's decision, and hope a staff shake-up leads to changes that put advocacy first.

We applaud Culver's decision to appoint former state Rep. Ro Foege of Mount Vernon as the agency's interim director. Foege has ample experience as a social worker and a lawmaker who chaired a legislative budget panel overseeing health and human services spending.

But we're troubled, once again, by another instance where it appears that the Culver administration cared more about political appearances than careful oversight. Controlling the message should always take a back seat to being open and honest with the people of Iowa on important issues.