They said it couldn't — or, at least, wouldn't — be done, but you can see it for yourself, in living Internet color:  non-required disclosures made by Chicago officials and employees.

These are not annual disclosures, but mostly disclosures of gift offers, accepted and rejected. There are dozens of them for 2012 and 2013, and 9 already for 2014. It's good that these disclosures are made, and that they're made public. It never hurts to make local officials look good!

Maybe the next Chicago fraud case will involve officials making up gifts that they can say they returned.