Passing Ethics Where it Counts - Connecticut Steps Up to the Plate
By Kim Hynes
Posted on Mon Jun 23, 2008 at 11:17:59 AM EST
Imagine getting a note from your bosses' go to guy requesting a donation - to a favorite charity, to the bosses' bonus fund, to his or her kid's school. The note said, "You'd better pony up for this!" What would you do? Well, in all likelihood, you would whip out your checkbook and start writing. In this economic climate especially, no one wants to put their job in jeopardy.
But how would it make you feel? Somewhat used, I imagine. Perhaps resentful. What if your boss was an elected official, and the chief of staff was hitting you up for a contribution to the bosses' campaign fund? You can't say no and expect to get a good job review ever again, and your boss gets a guaranteed flow of funds into his or her campaign coffers. Oh well, that's the way the game is played, right?
Well, not in Connecticut any more! Last week Connecticut Governor Jodi Rell signed a comprehensive ethics reform bill into law. The new law bans chiefs of staff for the Governor, statewide elected officials, and political caucuses from soliciting campaign contributions from subordinate staff. In addition, the bill makes it a crime to fail to report a bribe, limits the value of gifts that can be given to elected officials, and allows the revocation of a pension of an elected official or state or municipal employee convicted of wrong doing on the job.
Kudos to the Connecticut legislature, and all the advocates who lobbied hard over the past few years for ethics reform to come to Connecticut, and thanks to Governor Rell who signed the bill into law. What with campaign finance reform AND ethics reform - Connecticut should shed its "Corrupticut" nick name before long.
Here's to a squeaky clean state - may other states follow suit.
Tags: ethics in government, connecticut, in the states, campaign contributions, money in politics (all tags)
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