It’s amazing how a little transparency can get those in power so worked up.

Americans have already had to swallow the White House’s feeble excuse for shutting down EconomicIndicators.gov, a government-run site that gives the public, investors and the press access to US economic data. (The site is miraculously up-and-running again.)

Now highly-paid congressional staffers are complaining that internet company LegiStorm is invading their privacy by publishing their salaries and personal finance disclosures online.

According to a report in The Washington Post:

In an unusual conflict over constitutional rights, the aides argue that the recent disclosures leave them highly vulnerable to identity theft. But the Web site, LegiStorm, contends that it has a First Amendment right to publish already public information about some of the Capitol’s most powerful players — the high-level staffers — and is creating a new check against potential corruption.

“Congressional staffers are among the most powerful people in Washington, and in the past they have received very little scrutiny. It’s about time there was a little more scrutiny given to what they’re doing,” said Jock Friedly, president and founder of LegiStorm, which has six employees.