Accountability needed in new ethics reform
We are all tired of seeing public officials going to jail for corruption. Over the past decade the list of Republicans and Democrats, local and state officeholders, caught lining their pockets with public funds is much too long. It saps public confidence in our ability to do great things.
It heightens cynicism and distrust at a time when we will need confidence to move our state forward economically and educationally. It gives Alabama a bad name.
The system must be changed, and the way to do that is to pass new laws to increase public scrutiny. While it won’t stop every abuse, having more disclosure will certainly make politicians and bureaucrats think twice about doing something illegal or unethical. Exposure and disclosure is the key.
Our state has some of the most lax laws on campaign finance in the country, inviting abuse. We are in the dark when it comes to how contracts are awarded by the administration, with questionable deals occurring too frequently. Money moves around in the shadows.
It is time to increase the public’s ability to see every aspect of state business. When it comes to public corruption, the best disinfectant is a big dose of sunshine.
For years the Legislature tried to pass new sunshine and ethics laws, only to see some sort of political shenanigans or special interest shoot them down. Eliminating transfers of money from political action committee to committee, the money laundering of our time, would regularly pass the House unanimously only to be derailed in the Senate.
Now it looks to pass, finally.
In 2006, we passed strict ethics laws that would compel lobbyists angling for contracts with the governor’s office to report their activities. This bill was vetoed by Riley himself, who said at the time that it would impede the administration from doing business.
So it is not without some irony that we see outgoing governor Bob Riley calling the new Legislature into special session to pass new ethics laws.
One of the bills addresses the lobbying of future administrations. The old adage “do as I say not as I do” comes to mind, especially in light that none of the laws proposed would affect him or his administration.
The Alabama state constitution states that the new Legislature is immediately installed after a general election, yet statewide offices such as the governor, do not take office until inauguration in January.
This is why we have an old governor and a new House and Senate getting ready to meet, an uncommon dynamic for the special session on ethics.
This unique situation highlights all the more that some of the governor’s bills seem less concerned about ethics and transparency and more for political points as Riley leaves office.
That’s why it’s even more important for legislators to study the bills and make sure that they really are the strongest possible. If there are parts of the bills in the governor’s package that have loopholes and gaps, then we will be looking to make changes.
It’s important to not have bills that may yet invite further abuse, like making legislative caucuses immune from some transparency rules and exemptions for certain pork spending.
Everyone should recognize that the people of Alabama want stronger ethics laws, and they have stated that loud and clear. As we go to Montgomery for the special session, it’s important to make sure that no one is inserting things in the ethics bills that inevitably create more problems down the road.
Passing strong ethics bills is one way to restore the public’s confidence and to show that when it comes to ethics, it’s more than just “do as I say and not as I do.”
Johnny Mack Morrow is a state representative for Franklin County. His column appears each Wednesday.
