So three Louisiana lawmakers walked into a bar and began debating ethics …

That line could almost certainly begin almost any good-natured joke intended to prey upon the stereotype of a corrupt, Louisiana politician.

Unfortunately, the stereotype of crooked politicians is found to be accurate more often than we’d like to admit and it’s not just in Louisiana, either.

Lawmakers in Baton Rouge are, however, considering legislation that would require politicians to disclose how they make their livings and how they spend large sums of money. Consider it campaign finance reform taken up a notch.

Opponents say such legislation violates the privacy of the elected officials.

We disagree.

Public officials already give up a bit of their privacy by the very nature of their running for office.

They put their names on the ballot knowing their lives may never be the same. They may get late-night telephone calls and may get stopped in the grocery store and at the ballparks about just about any issue.

It comes with the territory and, unfortunately, politics — even local politics — is controlled by money — big money.

If money is power, lots of power is fed into elections and to candidates.

The Louisiana legislation under consideration simply aims and knowing exactly how politicians earn their keep and how they spend big sums of money.

Accomplishing this can be done without divulging their tax returns or their total income and it needs to happen.

Passing such legislation may be a good step toward tearing down the stereotypes of corrupt elected officials.