April 28, 2009 Governor Riley Discusses Efforts to Pass Anti-Corruption Package
Governor Riley’s Anti-Corruption Bill is up for debate in the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, April 29. In a video message, Governor Riley discussed efforts to pass this sweeping reform and urged Alabamians to call or email members of the committee and tell them to support House Bill 594. The principles of House Bill 594 are:
- Public officials are public servants. All references to public officials and public employees in our ethics law will be replaced with the term “public servants.” This is to remind all that public service comes with a duty not to serve our own interests but the public’s.
- Government must be transparent and open. The Governor’s bill requires full disclosure of what lobbyists spend on public servants and members of their households. All gifts, meals, travel expenses - anything of value - must be publicly disclosed on the Internet. The Governor’s bill also requires disclosure of any financial transactions between lobbyists and public servants or members of their households, and all contracts public servants or household members have with entities that receive public funds.
- In addition to disclosing all gifts, we must limit gifts. Under the Governor’s bill, public servants may not solicit or accept gifts over $25 from lobbyists, state contractors and others trying to influence government action.
- We need an Ethics Commission that is empowered to enforce the law. The Governor’s proposal provides the Ethics Commission with subpoena power.
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