(Update from Pam: I just got a call from someone “in the know” who reports, and I believe it, that the ethics bill is close to being finalized, that both the House and Senate are cooperating, and that I will be very happy with the result (no specifics of course). But no harm in making those calls anyway. That’s democracy in action, and it is a critical part of the enterprise.)
Massachusetts citizens are angry, frustrated, and reeling from the revelations of corruption and unethical behavior in Massachusetts. While it is true that good laws cannot always stop bad behavior, they can limit temptation and provide the tools for the enforcement agencies to effectively set the rules, detect breaches, and then punish wrongdoers appropriately.
If there was ever a time for a strong ethics bill it is now. So where is it?
MIA.
To be fair, I have urged the conferees not to agree to a watered down bill, and to take the time they need to finalize a good bill. In fact a final bill may be ready as early as today. But if getting a strong bill were an easy matter, it would have been done already. So now is the time to call your legislator (again) to demand real ethics reform. Make that call this morning if possible.
What would a strong bill contain? The ethics provisions the House passed in March–enhanced authority for the ethics commission, including the power to write regulations, and a code of conduct that carries criminal penalties, stiffer penalties, and an admittedly imperfect gift ban. Better would be the gifts language proposed by the Task Force (no gifts of substantial value for or because of official position which can be enforced both civilly and criminally). It would also include the campaign finance reforms passed by both the Senate and the House and the three others only the Senate passed-a ban on lobbyists campaign contributions, a reduction in the contribution limit to political parties, and disclosure of sham issue ads and mailings.
It would NOT have the provisions that the Senate passed that actually would give the Ethics Commission less authority and ability to enforce the law: transferring adjudications to DALA, shortening the statute of limitations and repose, and an unprecedented “total” discovery requirement.
Conferees are typically very quiet about what is really going on, and this case is no exception. But it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure it out.
That said, I am still hoping that the final product will be a bill that Common Cause can endorse and the Governor will sign.
PamWilmot writes: “To be fair, I have urged the conferees not to agree to a watered down bill, and to take the time they need to finalize a good bill. In fact a final bill may be ready as early as today.”
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p>If your stated facts are true: you want “to be fair”; you “urged the conferees” not to settle for expedient “watered down bill” and “to take the time needed” ; AND you think that it “might be ready “as early as today”…then what is the reason for an over the top urgent call to action? …seems like they are doing just what you wanted.
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p>There will be an Ethics Reform bill passed…and it will happen before the end of the fiscal year (just a week or so away) in plenty of time for the governor to sign the budget…all drama aside on all sides.
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My response to Pam Wilmot’s post was to send an e-mail asking for a copy once it comes out, and raising a couple of the issues I care about.
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p>Rule #1 of representative democracy after all is, with due credit to Lobbying on a Shoestring,
A few responses to the comments on the ethics reform legislation we are waiting for:
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p>First, here is the link to the legislation Governor Patrick originally filed which reflects in its entirety the set of recommendations of the Task Force as accepted by Governor Patrick.
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p>Second, Pam Wilmot, who runs Common Cause here in Massachusetts, is a true expert and hard working public servant. When this does get done–we will all owe Pam a personal thank you for the work – not work of a day or one year–that the result WILL reflect.
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p>Third, you can see I am confident it WILL happen–because I know the legislative leadership agrees that this must get done. I am simply asking them for communication about when.
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p>Fourth, the substantive issues Pam Wilmot raised I totally agree with—the final bill should strengthen the ethics commission and other agencies with the tools they need, and update the statutes with the penaltes that are warranted. It is not just “any old” ethics bill that we deserve. She is also right that it is a good time to tell your legislators that you care about this issue. 617 722 2000. There is nothing dramatic about participating in the process, and this is the time to do it.
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p>The public is watching this closely. People ask me all the time what is going on. I am looking forward to saying that it was made a priority and it is done and done well.
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p>Andy Tarsy
Here is the link to the legislation Governor Patrick filed in January 2009 reflecting the recommendations of the ethics reform task force in their entirety:
http://bit.ly/3FbOpt
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p>Wow, you beat me to it. The thing I hate about this whole “reform agenda” has nothing to do with the policy points, most of which I strongly support, it is the arbitrary timing. The Transportation Reform bill has as many zeros attached to it as Health Care reform, it took 18 months to do health care reform, and we forced them to rush transportation though in what, 3? Legislation is supposed to move slow. It is how the founding fathers created the system. I remember from a civics class a teacher explaining that there are like 50 ways to kill a bill but only one to see it pass.
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p>I just don’t see the rush. I would rather good over fast any day. Anyone betting on how many “technical corrections” bills will need to be filed to fix this hurried agenda?