Other Ethics Issues

LWVAL Action Priority Level III - If and when opportunities arise, assess if action is feasible given resources and priorities.

Click a bill to see sponsor(s), summary (including link to full text), League action and justification for that action, and progress of the bill through the legislative progress. Inclusion of a bill in this list does not necessarily indicate LWVAL support. The League's position, if any, is noted under League Action & Justification.

green-right-arrow.jpgIndicates change from previous week's report such as new progress in the legislature and/or League action. These updates are in green font.

LWVAL has taken a position on these bills.

HB10 - managerial personel of entities contracting with 2-year or 4-year institutions of higher education may serve in the Legislature

Sponsor(s): Rep. Joseph Mitchell

Summary/Synopsis: A constitutional amendment specifying that certain persons employed in a managerial capacity by any entity that contracts with any public two-year or four-year institution of higher education in this state (and has direct substantive influence regarding the contract between the entity and the institution) may not serve in the Legislature.
This provision is added to Section 47, which defines qualification for Senators and Representatives. It aims to prevent potential undue influence, conflict of interest, or multiple payments by the state to the person.
League Action & Justification: LWVAL opposes HB10. Applying to HB 10, HB 17, and HB 66 - The League supports participatory democracy and the inclusion of all. Double-dipping and conflict of interest behaviors are better handled through ethics legislation and House and Senate rules that regulate and punish inappropriate behaviors than by limits on who may serve in government based on occupation or employer.

Government and education are now such a major part of our economy that saying that those who contract with them should not be part of the legislative body significantly limits the talent and experience pool available for government and deprives a significant number of citizens of the right to seek and hold office or to freely pursue their trade or business. Small businesses in small college towns would be much more affected than those working for large corporations that could simply be sure "their" person in the legislature is not in charge of contracting.

If you eliminate court personnel, lawyers, those who provide services to the local college, and those employed by the local college and schools from the pool of citizens who can serve in the legislature or hold a statewide office, you have eliminated a highly educated people with diverse experience and skills.

Bill Progress in the Legislature:
1st Read: 1/12/10 and assigned to

HB17 - person engaged in any occupation or vocation that involves serving as an officer of the court may not serve in the Legislature.

Sponsor(s): Rep. Joseph Mitchell

Summary/Synopsis: A proposed constitutional amendment specifying that a person engaged in any occupation or vocation that involves serving as an officer of the court, including, but not limited to attorneys, may not serve in the Legislature.
The stated purpose of the restriction is to prevent undue influence, conflict of interest, or multiple payments by the state to the person. The phrase about including lawyers does not appear in the wording proposed for the constitutional amendment

League Action & Justification: LWVAL opposes HB 17. Applying to HB 10, HB 17, and HB 66 - The League supports participatory democracy and the inclusion of all. Double-dipping and conflict of interest behaviors are better handled through ethics legislation and House and Senate rules that regulate and punish inappropriate behaviors than by limits on who may serve in government based on occupation or employer.

Government and education are now such a major part of our economy that saying that those who contract with them should not be part of the legislative body significantly limits the talent and experience pool available for government and deprives a significant number of citizens of the right to seek and hold office or to freely pursue their trade or business. Small businesses in small college towns would be much more affected than those working for large corporations that could simply be sure "their" person in the legislature is not in charge of contracting.

If you eliminate court personnel, lawyers, those who provide services to the local college, and those employed by the local college and schools from the pool of citizens who can serve in the legislature or hold a statewide office, you have eliminated a highly educated people with diverse experience and skills.

Bill Progress in the Legislature:
1st Read: 1/12/10 and assigned to

HB66 - state employees, employees of public educational institutions may not hold statewide elective office or serve in Legislature.

Sponsor(s): Rep. Duwayne Bridges

Summary/Synopsis: State employees, employees of public educational institutions ineligible from holding statewide elective office or serving in the Legislature. End to Double Dipping Act.
League Action & Justification: LWVAL opposes HB 66. Applying to HB 10, HB 17, and HB 66 - The League supports participatory democracy and the inclusion of all. Double-dipping and conflict of interest behaviors are better handled through ethics legislation and House and Senate rules that regulate and punish inappropriate behaviors than by limits on who may serve in government based on occupation or employer.

Government and education are now such a major part of our economy that saying that those who contract with them should not be part of the legislative body significantly limits the talent and experience pool available for government and deprives a significant number of citizens of the right to seek and hold office or to freely pursue their trade or business. Small businesses in small college towns would be much more affected than those working for large corporations that could simply be sure "their" person in the legislature is not in charge of contracting.

If you eliminate court personnel, lawyers, those who provide services to the local college, and those employed by the local college and schools from the pool of citizens who can serve in the legislature or hold a statewide office, you have eliminated a highly educated people with diverse experience and skills.

Bill Progress in the Legislature:
1st Read: 1/12/10 and assigned to

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