FACT CHECK — Ryan: Hawaii ID Theft Third-Worst in Nation

Hawaii.gov

UPDATED 1/26/12 8:59 a.m.

Correction An earlier version of this Fact Check incorrectly reported that the effort was to keep the names and salaries of lawmakers private. The goal was to protect government employees.

WASHINGTON — Making the case for keeping private the names and salaries of state and county employees, Hawaii state Sen. Pohai Ryan said this in a House Labor and Public Employees Committee meeting last week:

"I feel they should have the same protections private sector employees enjoy. There is no other agenda to this. Hawaii has the third-highest identity theft crime in the nation."

But no one present at the meeting could actually cite an example of identity theft that had stemmed from the publication of salary information.

Civil Beat routinely publishes the salaries of state employees. It's part of our effort to encourage government transparency, to help make it possible for citizens to evaluate where money is spent and whether it's spent wisely.

Language in a bill that Ryan introduced refers indirectly to Civil Beat stories. But does Hawaii really have the third-highest identity theft crime in the nation?

Not by a long shot.

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