Editorial 07/03: Ethics deserves special attention

July 3, 2005
The Commercial Appeal

THE CORNERSTONE of any democratically elected government should be based on trust.

Citizens should feel confident that their representatives are truly acting in their best interests.

That being the case, it would be very appropriate for the Tennessee General Assembly to hold a special session on ethics this fall.

Provided, of course, that the session would produce some meaningful reforms in state law and not mere political window dressing.

Let's give credit where credit is due: Our legislators made some big strides in ethics reform during the regular legislative session that ended May 28.

Much more work needs to be done, however. And a special session would give them the opportunity to concentrate on ethics without the other distractions they'll have when the next regular session begins in January.

For starters, there's a need to increase the amount of information lobbyists should disclose about their fees and salaries. Citizens have a right to know who's paying lobbyists and how much.

It would also be appropriate to discuss a ban on contingency fees, which lobbyists collect only if they are successful in passing (or defeating) particular pieces of legislation.

Also, legislators should discuss possible limits on campaign contributions from individuals, businesses or other organizations. It's important for citizens to know whom our legislators have to thank for financial support.

And lawmakers should discuss ways to make government more open and accessible to the public. Why not, for example, post all recorded votes on the Internet and take other steps to make it easier for average Joes and Janes to keep up with what's happening in Nashville?

State Sen. Mark Norris, R-Collierville, has also suggested creating an independent ethics commission to oversee all branches of state government.

If properly structured and granted sufficient power to investigate and penalize violators, such a commission could help ensure ethical conduct.

Legislators might even want to consider increasing the restrictions they adopted earlier this year regarding consulting work by government officials.

Thanks to the law adopted this year, a state legislator can no longer do consulting work in Tennessee for a company that does business with state government.

It's still possible, though, for a legislator to do consulting work in another state for a company that has a Tennessee state contract.

That leaves the potential for a quid pro quo, where a legislator might decide to wield influence to help a business associate, even if the consulting isn't related to an in-state contract.

A 12-member panel of lawmakers is scheduled to begin meeting later this month to discuss possible reforms.

Gov. Phil Bredesen has said he'd consider calling a special session in October or November if there's bipartisan support for specific reforms.

Hopefully, there will be. The public deserves no less.