Law undermines ethics, former board officials say
Print
Email
Save
Reprints
Twitter
Share
Del.icio.us
Digg
Facebook
Reddit
- Page 1 of 3
- SINGLE PAGE VIEW
With the stroke of a pen, Gov. Bobby Jindal undermined a 40-year-old Louisiana law that stopped people from personally benefiting from their service on government boards, former state ethics officials said.
On Tuesday, Jindal said he signed the legislation that won overwhelming legislative approval to allow more “qualified people” to serve on government boards.
If problems develop, Jindal said he would seek repeal of the measure.
Jindal touts achieving a “gold standard” in ethics and made it his top priority in a special February legislative session.
But Jindal’s signing of the legislation allows appointees to now stay on boards when some conflicts of interest arise.
Effective Aug. 15, the new law lets appointees to simply refuse to vote when there’s a conflict. In addition, they cannot participate in debate.
Previously, appointees had to quit government boards if ethics problems arose.
“The idea of recusal is inconsistent with an ethics code,” said Robert Roland, a former Louisiana Board of Ethics chairman.
“It’s an absolute devastating blow to the ethics code,” said lawyer Gray Sexton, who served as the Ethics Board’s general counsel for decades until last year.
“I cannot think of any other legislative action that would do more damage to the ethics program than allowing someone to serve when they have a conflict,” Sexton said.
The old law had been in effect since 1967. Considered the “cornerstone” of state ethics laws, it banned people from serving when they, their next of kin and businesses had interests affected by dealings of the boards on which they serve.
Roland said there was a good reason for the old law.
While an appointee doesn’t vote, his friends on the board can help him out — approving or disapproving transactions that benefit the individual who has a conflict, Roland said.
- NEXT PAGE »
- 1
- 2
- 3
-
Is Bobby Jindal really ready for prime time? Immediately after closing one gate on the bottom feeders, he opens another. And, to top it off, we're expected to believe they will voluntarily recluse themselves? Phooey!
-
Voluntary recusal will not work. Voluntary recusal has not worked in the past. There is no effective penalty for those who do not want to recuse themselves and refrain from voting. There are plenty of greedy people willing to vote where they have a conflict of interest: ie, public contracts to pave roads through their family owned property or to install utility lines through their family owned property which they plan to develop. The former Ethics Board has chosen to ignore voluntary recusal. My complaint over a public official voting numerous times to improve family owned property out of the city contracts has been ignored. My complaint has been sitting in the investigation files for over a year. What's there to investigate? Just read the minutes of the meetings.
-
If you will check the facts, you will find one of Jindal's largest fundraisers is now under investigation over conflicts of interest while serving on a state Board. He raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for Jindal, and he was instrumental in getting Jindal to support this bill. By the way, Jindal also appointed him to the Superdome Commission. Jindal will do anything to reward his financiers.
-
I guess I come from the old school where keeping your word or not keeping your word is an ethical value! So I have a hard time with Jindal talking about ethics when only weeks ago he broke his word to the people of Louisiana. To say this will allow more “qualified people” to serve on government boards is bull; that sounds like something Bush would say. It allows people who may have a vested interest in that particular field to be on a board which could allow them to influence decisions even though there are conflicts of interest. The question I ask myself is will this benefit the people? The great state of Louisiana has a history of corruption by politicians so lets open another door for more!
-
As one familiar with the Code of Ethics, I am absolutely stunned that Jindal would sign this bill. Unquestionably, this is the single largest set back for ethics enforcement in Louisiana history. I think it demonstrates that Jindal is not knowledgeable about the Code of Ethics and its' working history, OR Jindal is controlled by special interests and his fundraiser(s) that he has awarded with plum appointments to state boards. This is really shocking given all the ethics speeches Jindal got elected on.
-
Stunned !- This shows the real picture of Jindal! Bush did the same with a federal board that was over coal miners, he appointed insiders of mining companies to the board that oversaw regulations concerning miners. So when an issue of safety came before the board they looked at it from a company perspective of how much it would cost vs the real safety issue! Who do think won in the end?
-
The only way we are going to get rid of another crook in office is to start a recall or impeachmrnt process. For years and years the good people of Louisiana have been taken to the cleaners(our wallets). Let's get rid of Jindal before he can pay off his cronies and continue to feather their money nests. Stand up Louisiana! Our children will be paying for the damages these crooks do.
-
This Organization needs MORE TEETH (Legal Power), A few Changes. BUT IT IS A START....What has been in effect for many years in LOUISIANA, Has Definately Has not been working. The right Civil Servants can make the right changes as time passes. Thank YOU GOV JINDAL, For a START..
-
Expecting the governor to appoint people who will voluntarily not profit from their new job when they will probably be owners or CEOs is ludicrous. Jindal is following the policy of the Bush administration. Appoint people who will undermine the government position to prove that private business can do it better. Look how well that has worked out. It is another short-sighted cynical tap dance he is doing to not keep his promise.
-
He never intended to keep his promises. Read the book on how Carl Rove sees public service and the people who it is suppose to benefit.
-
I Lived in MICHIGAN (OUT OF NECESSITY) for 15 Years.. I finally got to come Home to Louisiana... Michigan Has held the upper hand in Michigan fore 40 years or more... Michigan was once one of the most prosperous States in the United States...After 40 years of DEMOCRATIC RULE...Look at it today....Is this what LOUISIANA WANTS...Spoken by a voice of experiance... With Out The changes now taking place , Louisiana (STATE THAT I LOVE) is headed the Same Way. Though More changes are needed. The steps taken by GOV. JINDAL are not perfect, BUT they are in the right DIRECTION...
-
Correction::::DEMOCRATS HAVE HELD THE UPPER HAND IN MICHIGAN FOR OVER 40 YEARS OR MORE
-
All politicians are crooks. This will not change. Voluntarily abstaining from voting is no worse than expecting doctors to police themselves, lawyers to police themselves, and POLICE to police themselves. Wonder how old Eddie is doing these days... Suitcases full of cash... Who sells the licenses for the casinos now?
Click "Report Abuse" to notify our moderators that a comment may contain objectionable content.
Your comment appears to contain objectionable content and must be reviewed by a site moderator. If your comment is deemed objectionable, it will not appear on the site.
 | ||||
| Most Popular | Most Emailed | Hot Topics | ||
