Better Government Association

State needs ethics reform -- now

By David Burroughs
May 24, 2007

The Community Board has been asked on occasion to write something positive about our community and state. Therefore, let me say I'm POSITIVE we need ethics reform now in Louisiana.

Legislators thus far this session have danced around the issue but have shown no rush to embrace ethics reform. Ethics reform in Louisiana is needed partly because of our past but mostly for our future.

Please keep the laughter to a minimum, but Louisiana actually has a comprehensive Code of Governmental Ethics. In its 43 pages is the framework of what was once the benchmark for ethics codes and has since slipped to 46th based on a nationwide review by the Better Government Association.

We can and should embrace ethics reform in Louisiana because it should be no surprise that perception of Louisiana governmental ethics has evolved from an area of concern, to nationwide joke, to downright embarrassment. Some of this reputation has been earned and some perhaps a little unfair and not much different from other areas of the country.

A good starting place to get to work on ethics reform is the initiative outlined by a coalition of Louisiana business and civic organizations called LaEthics1. This initiative outlines a two- to three-year agenda to achieve nationwide leadership in the area of governmental ethics. Among the first-year agenda items are the following.

n Require financial disclosure by legislators and legislative candidates.

Annual disclosure of income, assets, and liabilities to promote accountability by revealing potential conflicts of interests.

Strengthen access to public records.

Quick administrative appeal if denied access.

Make governmental ethics training mandatory.

The idea is that awareness of behavioral boundaries will reduce inadvertent violations by elected officials, government employees, and appointees to boards and commissions.

Create an independent, full-time ethics administrator.

HB 532 recently passed 101-0 establishing the ethics administrator. Interpretation — nice start and why not complete the task of ethics reform. Interesting that of all the reform initiatives this one actually costs taxpayers to implement. Most of the reform initiative would come at little or no cost to taxpayers.

Enhance citizen access to ethics reports and filings.

One concept is a user-friendly, Web-based searchable database for lobbyist disclosure, legislative financial disclosure, and other key ethic information.

Implement targeted technical improvements to state ethics laws.

Enhance whistle-blower protection and related outreach efforts.

Expand lobbyist registration and reporting requirements.

Periodic review of the now over 100 exceptions allowed in ethics laws.

There have been at least 11 bills filed to address most of these items. The details to be worked out for most of these items are not easy. However, it is essential to our state's future that we get ethics reform passed now. It is vital for economic development, for our state's reputation, and to instill pride and confidence in Louisiana from its citizens and others. A recent poll conducted by the LSU Public Policy research Lab showed that cleaning up our image and corruption is second only to improving public education to attract business investment. They also found that how we view ourselves translates directly to how we're perceived outside the state. Because of our past, we must become leaders in governmental ethics. For our future, we must complete the reforms now.

David Burroughs of Haughton is a member of The Times Community Board.