Ethics panel opposes changes

• By MARK BALLARD
• Advocate Capitol News Bureau
• Published: May 9, 2008 - Page: 5A - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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The administrative committee of the state Board of Ethics voted Thursday to oppose nine bills lawmakers have offered in the Louisiana Legislature to change the newly enacted laws on how government officials can act.

The Louisiana Legislature, which convened on March 31, submitted 91 measures that would change the ethics laws, which govern what government officials can do and what behaviors they are forbidden.

Many of the bills tweak what was passed during a 17-day special session in February.

For instance, the panel voted to oppose two related measures, House Bill 290 and House Bill 906, because they have language that could keep whistle-blowers and ordinary people from filing complaints about government officials.

“It’s really going to have a chilling effect,” said retired state Judge John W. Greene of the 22nd Judicial District Court in Covington. He is vice chairman of the Ethics Board and heads the administrative committee for the board that is charged with enforcing and interpreting the ethics laws for the state’s government officials.

Both bills are awaiting a vote by the full House. HB290 is co-sponsored by House Speaker Jim Tucker, R-Terrytown.

HB290 details how the Ethics Board should handle a complaint, including a detailed explanation regarding the possible violation, specific factual allegations used to decide to investigate and a copy of the original tip.

The House Committee on House and Governmental Affairs amended the measure to require the Ethics Board to remove the identification of the person making the complaint.

HB906 passed out of the same committee on the same day but without the amendment. The bill would require the Ethics Board to tell the government official accused of breaching one of the rules the name of the person who informed on them.

The measure, sponsored by state Rep. Nita Hutter, R-Chalmette, also is awaiting a vote by the full House.

Jindal vetoed a bill, sponsored by state Rep. Herbert B. Dixon, D-Alexandria, passed during the February special session, which would require revealing the names of complainants to the Ethics Board.

“I am concerned that portions of the Bill would have the unintended consequence of potentially impeding legitimate complaints,” Jindal wrote in his March 12 veto message.

Board member Gwen Hamilton said Jindal’s veto of the previous legislation indicated to her that he would veto HB290 and HB906, too.