Alabama citizens need to watch legislative efforts to weaken state ethics law
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Eye on Politics
Paul DeMarco
While Alabama lawmakers have only been in session since the first of February, they have already worked through almost half the legislative session.
Legislators are now back to work this week after the first of two spring breaks this session. There are only 13 days left before state representatives and senators adjourn for the year.
While a number of bills have passed one chamber or the other, the headlines have all focused on the debates over the gambling, election integrity, school choice, and the IVF legislation.
Thus, while we expect to see state representatives and senators start to address the budgets this next week, the next big issue will be the proposed legislation to reform the state’s ethics laws.
The timing could not be worse for legislators, considering this past week State Rep. John Rogers agreed to plead guilty and resign following his prosecution by federal prosecutors because of a scheme defrauding the Jefferson County Community Service Fund. Rogers is the third Alabama legislator in the past 12 months to resign following a prosecution for wrongdoing.
The last major rewrite of the state’s ethics laws was in 2010 following a slew of incitements, arrests and convictions of state lawmakers for public corruption, and at the time it was hailed as the toughest in the nation.
Now these efforts to change the Alabama Ethics Act have drawn criticism that the new bill will weaken the penalties for those who commit crimes as elected officials. The bill is both opposed by the Alabama Ethics Commission and Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshal.
If state representatives and senators need to address discrepancies or loopholes in the law or tweak the regulations to ensure public officials and employees follow the law, then explain those necessary changes to the public. However, do not take the stick of criminal prosecution away to pursue those who attempt to use their office for personal gain.
This state has seen more than its fair share of government corruption; let’s hope lawmakers do not repeal the tools prosecutors can use to punish those that betray the trust of their constituents.
Paul DeMarco is a former member of the Alabama House of Representatives and can be found on X, formerly Twitter, at @Paul_DeMarco.