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Yesterday we decided to take the Senate Ethics Committee and the House Ethics Committee and form a Joint Interim Ethics Team to rework the complaint process. Here are the Trib and DNews.

Representative Dougall (Chair of the House Ethics Committee) said the complaint process needs to 1) meet the public's needs, 2) be fair to lawmakers and 3) ensure that justice is served.

Key quote (highlighted in today's UPD):

"Last year's October surprise was a clear example of a kangaroo court," [Senate Majority Leader] Killpack said of the drama that ensued when Riesen leaked allegations against Hughes to the media.

"By state constitution, the Legislature is responsible to deal with their own," Killpack said, "As such, we need things in place where you can quantify and legitimize a complaint before tarnishing somebody in the press."

Nuts & Bolts: This year our interim committees will meet on the third Wednesday of each month, starting in May, skipping July, and ending in November.

The President of the Senate should finalize assignments over the next week or two. A few committees will be consolidated to make room for the Ethics Process Committee to meet in the morning and the Health System Reform Task Force to meet in the afternoon on interim days. That way we'll cover the ground without incurring extra costs.

Stay tuned.

2 Comments:

 Anonymous said...

Senator Killpack speaking of an "October Surprise" is a little like Brutus telling Caesar that he was just trying to get to the point. Each year, the legislature routinely saves some controversial bills for the last few days of the legislative session, hoping that no one will notice or if they do, that there will be no time for vigorous debate and/or public disclosure.

Do we need ethics reform? Certainly, but let's begin with mandatory civics lessons and a thorough understanding of what the word "recuse" means.

4/08/2009 7:32 PM  

 The Senate Site said...

Whatever, anonymous.

4/09/2009 10:01 AM  

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