State Ethics Code Change Allows Abuse of Power by Lawmakers
Ian Lind was at this week’s Ethics Commission hearing and has a pretty startling report.
Legislators, intentionally or not, exempted themselves from a provision of the ethics code that prohibits state officials from using their positions for personal gain.
Excerpts from his blog:
Les Kondo, executive director of the State Ethics Commission, told commissioners the broad exemption, while likely unintentional, results in removing their authority to rein in abuses of legislative power and authority.
“I can’t emphasize this enough,” Kondo said.
HB 2175, passed into law as Act 208, amended the “fair treatment” provisions of the ethics law by expanding a legislative exemption. It effectively now gives legislators carte blanche to use their positions to give unwarranted benefits to themselves, friends, or supporters, Kondo said.
