It’s admirable to stand up for something you believe in because it is the right thing to do.

But it is more than a little disappointing that when it is time to do the right thing, you simply don’t show up.

That’s where we found state Treasurer Kay Ivey when it was time to pass oversight guidelines for millions of dollars in grant monies Monday — noticeably absent.

The Republican gubernatorial hopeful last week was vocal in the need for transparency in grant awards by legislators in their home districts. And she was right, grabbing positive press for that stand. Two lawmakers had been convicted for misusing grant funds and had stringent guidelines been in place, that black mark on the program may have been avoided.

But when Lt. Gov. Jim Folsom Jr., who chairs the commission responsible for oversight, called in sick before the meeting Monday, Ivey decided not to show either. She would have had to preside, and she claimed she would have been prohibited from advocating her transparency position if she served as acting chairman.

At face value, that might seem plausible, but it was just last month when Ivey served as presiding officer and offered motions and voted on issues coming before the commission. So the treasurer’s claim just doesn’t add up.

Alabamians look to their elected leaders to represent their best interests, and it is difficult, if not downright impossible, to do so if you don’t show up.

It’s a shame Ivey raised the right issue before the meeting, which won her headlines across the state, but failed to follow through when it mattered most.