Ethics

10/09/09 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - This past Wednesday, Rep. Eric Massa joined with 246 members of Congress including six Republicans (including one from New York) and voted to refer complaints of impropriety against Rep. Charles Rangel to the bi-partisan House Ethics Committee for review. Since that time, articles have appeared pointing out that the ethics investigation into Chairman Rangel has expanded.    » read more »

Also requires education for employees and contractors

10/1/2009 -- Raleigh -- North Carolina Governor Bev Perdue today signed Executive Order 24 to extend North Carolina General Statute 133-32, the state’s gift ban, to cover all executive branch state employees. Currently, the ban applies only to a limited number of employees who are directly involved with contracts, or the inspection or supervision of construction.

“This executive order makes it clear — those of us who serve the people of North Carolina must be held to the highest ethical standards and act accordingly,” said Perdue. “Citizens expect and deserve nothing less.”

Within the next 30 days, all executive branch agencies are required to:    » read more »

Competitive and transparent license office award process implemented by Nixon was embraced by overwhelming majorities in the General Assembly

July 1, 2009 -- SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - Immediately after taking office in January, Missouri Governor Jay Nixon ended a longstanding tradition of political patronage by putting up for competitive bid the state's system of 183 license offices. Today, Gov. Nixon signed into law House Bill 381 and House Bill 683, which codify his reforms in statute and ensure that the open and transparent bidding system he implemented will remain in place in future years.    » read more »

Law builds on recommendations of Governor's Public Integrity Task Force, answers calls to renew confidence in government

BOSTON – July 1, 2009 – Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, joined by House Speaker Robert DeLeo and Senate President Therese Murray, today signed sweeping ethics, lobbying and campaign finance reform legislation that institutes a strong ban on gifts to public officials, increases penalties for civil and criminal violations of ethics laws and expands the investigative and enforcement powers of a number of state authorities.

Coming directly on the heels of landmark changes to the state's pension and transportation systems, the law delivers on promises made by the Governor to restore public trust in government by bringing real reform to Beacon Hill.    » read more »

June 23, 2009, Anchorage, Alaska – The 15th ethics complaint filed against Alaska Governor Sarah Palin or one of her staff has been dismissed. The complaint, filed by Andree McLeod against Anchorage Office Director Kris Perry, alleged Perry used her official position for personal gain by traveling with the governor on three occasions.    » read more »

Former State Representatives Be Released

June 4, 2009 -- The Department of Justice today asked the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit to remand the cases of former Alaska State Representatives Victor Kohring and Peter Kott, who were convicted on corruption charges in 2007, to the District Court. The Department also asked the Court of Appeals to release the two on personal recognizance, after the Department uncovered material that appears to be information that should have been, but was not, disclosed to the defense prior to trial.

Attorney General Eric Holder also instructed the Department’s Criminal Division to review the Department’s public corruption investigation in Alaska to ensure that all other discovery obligations have been met.    » read more »

Ethics Complaint on Governor’s Apparel Dismissed

June 3, 2009, Anchorage, Alaska - Alaska Governor Sarah Palin today welcomed news that another ethics complaint has been dismissed. This is the 14th ethics complaint filed against the governor or her staff that has been resolved with no finding of a violation of the Executive Branch Ethics Act. Those complaints contain 22 separate allegations, all of which have been found to be without merit.    » read more »

New Rule Requires that Applications for Competitive Spending Projects be Submitted Exclusively in Writing and That All Earmark Requests be Posted on Internet

May 29, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Public Citizen applauds the Obama Administration’s decision to require all requests for competitive spending grants from the stimulus package by non-governmental persons, including registered lobbyists, be made exclusively in writing and then posted on the Internet within three days.

Requests for non-competitive grants, such as those made to governmental agencies, may be made orally, but these requests must also be posted on the Internet. Until today’s executive order, the requirement that requests be submitted exclusively in writing applied only to registered lobbyists.    » read more »

May 27, 2009 -- In a certification audit conducted at Mithapur, Babrala and Haldia, the auditors expressed satisfaction on Tata Chemicals' management commitment and the social accountability management system (SAMS) put in place. TCL has been certified under SA 8000:2001 standard for the Mithapur, Babrala and Haldia sites by RINA India. TCL will be one of the few global organisations to have been SA 8000 certified.    » read more »

Legislation to Create Independent, Functional and Efficient Government Ethics Commission; One Standard Will Apply to Executive and Legislative Branches of Government

May 26, 2009 -- New York Governor David A. Paterson today announced the introduction of sweeping ethics reform legislation that would create a truly independent, functional and efficient Government Ethics Commission to replace the existing Public Integrity Commission.    » read more »

New Transparency & Disclosure Policy Among Strongest in the Country; Bans Campaign Contributions from any Parties Seeking Investment

May 26, 2009 -- (Santa Fe) – New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson and the State Investment Council voted unanimously today to ban any future investments with money managers who employ third-party placement agents, as well as requiring sweeping disclosure of any and all payments made in relation to Permanent Fund investments.

“The ban is the strongest in the nation and appropriately so,” Governor Bill Richardson said.

“With this ban, and the more stringent transparency and disclosure policies in place, I want the public to be confident that we are acting as responsible managers of the state’s Permanent Funds."    » read more »

May 18, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and Mark Begich, D-Alaska, have written to the chairman of a Senate subcommittee expressing concern over the panel’s investigation of Alaska Native Corporation participation in a federal contracting program.

U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Missouri, chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Contracting Oversight, has scheduled a hearing July 16, 2009, on government contracts awarded to Alaska Native Corporations under the Native American 8(a) program administered by the Small Business Administration.    » read more »

May 19, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Subcommittee on Contracting Oversight Chairman Claire McCaskill last week began the process of gathering key information on a how a federal law is being used to obtain millions of dollars in government contracts without competition.

Read a copy of McCaskill’s letter (pdf file)    » read more »

April 28, 2009 -- Alabama 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.    » read more »

April 22, 2009, Juneau, Alaska – The Office of Alaska Governor Palin today expressed outrage that yet another "baseless" ethics complaint has been filed as part of an alarming new development in Alaska politics.

“In the past several months, we have seen an orchestrated effort by the governor’s opponents to make differences of opinion and ideology almost criminal,” said Mike Nizich, the governor’s chief of staff. “Governor Palin has spent a considerable amount of time and money fighting ethics complaints – and no charge has been substantiated. I hope that the publicity-seekers will face a backlash from Alaskans who have a sense of fair play and proportion. I served six previous governors, and I’ve never seen anything like the attacks against Governor Palin.”    » read more »