Ethics Reform

“No other state has the trio of unlimited campaign contributions, unlimited lobbyist gifts to elected officials and no restrictions on when legislators can become lobbyists.” –From The Kansas City Star

I favor ethics reform in Jefferson City.  Frankly, I thought it was an obvious position and something of a “no-brainer”. Anyone who is even a casual observer of what goes on in our state capital would see that there are problems that need to be corrected. Or so I thought.

 

Imagine my surprise when I learned that some Missouri State Legislators openly oppose any new restrictions on things like gifts from lobbyists or attempts to stop the system of state legislators becoming lobbyists the minute they leave office, or sometimes before they even finish their terms.  At least one was confident enough to say so on his social media page, claiming “we don’t need ethics reform”.  He feels voters just need to elect the right people, and everything will be ok.

 

I work in the private sector, and my company values ethical behavior and its reputation very highly.  We are constantly required to watch videos on ethical behavior, and we have to follow very strict rules on what we can and cannot do.  One thing we certainly cannot do is give gifts to customers or receive gifts from suppliers.  Can we buy a cup of coffee or pizza if we are training a class of painters?  Yes, we can.  Can we give an expensive gift to a purchasing manager before he decides who will be awarded business?  No, that will get you fired.

 

It is not really all that complicated, but the videos we have to watch of the fictional GlobeCo and their rather inept and unethical employees do a good job of explaining the difference between right and wrong.  Giving a gift to someone who is about to make a decision, whether awarding business or casting a vote in the legislature, is wrong.

We can argue that a good purchasing manager or honest legislator can accept an expensive gift without being swayed, but the truth is that an ethical person in that position would neither accept such a gift, nor offer one.  The problem is the appearance of trying to influence a decision.  The problem is the damage to the company’s reputation, and the lack of trust in the process that would result if such gifts became public.  In my company such behavior would likely result in termination.  

 

The legislator argues that such rules are not “conservative”, that conservatives should not favor restrictions on the behavior of legislators, either while in office or in terms of a waiting period before they can become lobbyists.  I don’t know what his definition of “conservative” is, but I don’t think he realizes that when he takes office he becomes a part of government.  I am all about restrictions on government, including, or especially, legislators.

 

Before I could be employed at my current job I had to sign an agreement or two.  I agreed to not disclose confidential information about my company, and I agreed to a one year “non-compete” clause that restricts who I can be employed by after I leave this company.  Such requirements are common in industry.  I have no problem with requiring that state legislators wait a year before they can lobby their former colleagues.

Speaker Todd Richardson has put Ethics Reform front and center in the legislative agenda.  Sadly, it appears it will be a struggle to pass meaningful changes, because of the opposition by legislators who would lose the “benefits” of these lobbyist gifts and a lucrative revolving door that rewards votes with employment after leaving government.

 

Unlike the clueless employees of the fictional GlobeCo, my employer understands the value of its reputation and guards against even the appearance of possible unethical behavior.  I enthusiastically support the rules they have in place, because I know those rules protect me as well.  I would never think of asking if I could accept an expensive gift from a supplier, because I know it would reflect badly on me. 

 

There is NO good reason for a member of the state legislature to accept an expensive gift from a lobbyist. Gifts are not required in order to do your job.  The citizens have lost all confidence in government, and for good reason.  We need to avoid not just impropriety but the appearance of improper behavior as well.  We must restore trust in government, and this is an obvious place to start.

 

Do me a favor – ask your state legislators how they feel about ethics reform.  If they oppose ethics reform, then it is time to have some (perhaps difficult) conversations.