Ethics Commissions/Administration
A New Proposal for a Pennsylvania Public Integrity Commission with Jurisdiction Over Local Government Officials
Robert Wechsler
Yesterday, four Pennsylvania state representatives, two from each of
the major parties, announced a proposal to create a public integrity
commission that would have greater powers than the current state ethics
commission, and would jurisdiction over officials at all levels of government.
Alert: Government Ethics Will Not Make Politicians Honest
Robert Wechsler
According to an
article
in the Providence Journal, a Rhode Island state senator has been indicted on
federal charges that he falsified documents to get mortgages and an
auto loan worth more than $1.5 million.
Top EC Officials' Obligations Relating to Discussions of Their Personnel Matters
Robert Wechsler
Ethics commission leaders are falling like flies in Hawaii. I
recently wrote about Honolulu's EC chair resigning in order to be
involved in a mayoral candidate's campaign (he had already been involved in
other campaigns). And last Wednesday, the state EC fired its
long-time director, according to an
editorial in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.
Ethics Commission E-Newsletters
Robert Wechsler
Government ethics e-newsletters are a good source of ideas, and something worth considering for your local government's ethics commission or ethics officer. Atlanta's
new
spring 2010 newsletter, Ethics Matters, is a good example of what such an e-newsletter can do.
Ethics Pledges
Ethics Pledges
Florida Local Government Ethics Officials to Cooperate
Robert Wechsler
City Ethics' president and Jacksonville ethics officer, Carla Miller, is taking best practices to a new level in Florida. She is organizing a statewide local government ethics swap meeting, where local government ethics officials will share information and talk about swapping software and programs.
New Government Ethics Organization Mischaracterizes the State of Government Ethics, and Acts Politically
Robert Wechsler
Yesterday, my attention was drawn to a new organization called
Foundation for Ethics in Public Service, Inc., which operates as the
website www.reportpubliccorruption.org.
On February 11, its executive director, Leslie W. Merritt, Jr., a
former North Carolina state auditor, sent out a
statement to newspapers across the country about state and federal
ethics commissions.
Rhode Island Bill to Give Ethics Commission Back Its Jurisdiction Over Legislators
Robert Wechsler
Update: June 7, 2010 (see below)
Ethics Commission Political Activity
Robert Wechsler
Update: March 1, 2010 (see below)
The political activity of ethics commission members, staff, and ethics officers is an important topic. The issue has arisen this week with respect to Connecticut's Office of State Ethics, according to Jon Lender's Government Watch column in yesterday's Hartford Courant.
Join the Club?
Robert Wechsler
When people support ethics programs that feature toothless enforcement,
reel off the names of the countries that support toothless enforcement
of the UN
Convention against Corruption (according to an
article in this week's Economist):
- Algeria
Angola
China
Egypt
Iran
Pakistan
Russia
Venezuela
Zimbabwe
EC Independence and Initiative in Kentucky
Robert Wechsler
Update: November 16, 2009 (see below)
On Sunday, the Lexington Herald-Leader took an unflattering look at Kentucky's legislative ethics commission. As in New York State, a central problem appears to be the commission's lack of independence.