Legislators Aim For Action On Ethics Reform

After a roiling week of ethics headlines centered around the resignation of Sen. Paul Bookout (D-Jonesboro) and the self-reporting of potential campaign reporting mistakes by Lt. Gov. Mark Darr (R), members of the Arkansas legislature announced a new push for reforms.

House Democrats said they would form “a special committee” to examine the subject led by several members of their caucus. Rep. Warwick Sabin (D-Little Rock), who chairs the House freshmen caucus, invited other lawmakers to join the new effort.

“Arkansas Democrats remain committed to continuing the push for ethics reform and will work with anyone willing to stand with us,” he said.

Ethics and campaign-related incidents have led to three Democrats resigning from office in the past year.

In addition to Bookout’s recent resignation, former Rep. Hudson Hallum (D-Marion) resigned last year after federal authorities uncovered a vote-buying, ballot-destroying scheme that led to his narrow victory in a special election in 2011. He was sentenced to one year of home detention and three years of probation for conspiracy to violate the federal Travel Act. Hallum also must pay a $20,000 fine and serve 100 hours of community service.

State Treasurer Martha Shoffner (D) resigned from her position in May after being arrested by federal authorities on charges of extortion. She faces a 14-count indictment that includes 7 counts of receipt of bribes by an agent of state government receiving federal funds, 6 counts of extortion, and 1 count of attempted extortion.

The Arkansas House Democratic Caucus says it has formed a committee charged with “developing and proposing” potential ethics reform legislation. Current members include Rep. Mary Broadaway (D-Paragould), Rep. Harold Copenhaver (D-Jonesboro), Rep. George McGill (D-Ft. Smith), Rep. Jim Nickels (D-Sherwood), Rep. James Ratliff (D-Imboden), Rep. Warwick Sabin (D- Little Rock), Rep. Brent Talley (D- Hope), and Rep. Marshall Wright (D-Forrest City).

“It is concerning to hear about an elected official disregarding the laws that protect transparency in Arkansas’ government,” said Rep. Joe Jett (D-Success), the House Minority Whip who called for Bookout’s resignation. “The legislature must continue its efforts to reform our ethics laws. The people of Arkansas must be able to trust their elected public officials, and officials in both parties have damaged that relationship in recent months.”

House Majority Leader Rep. Bruce Westerman (R-Hot Springs) led the House Republican caucus in its efforts for more integrity and transparency in state government in the 2013 regular session. He said his group’s policy committee is studying potential changes in the wake of recent developments.

“The events of recent months have cast doubts among many Arkansans thanks to the ethical and legal issues involving elected officials in both the executive and legislative branches of government. The hardworking taxpayers of our state deserve better,” Westerman said. “House Republicans have been working on this issue and will continue to do so. We look forward to Democrats joining with us in a bipartisan effort because ethics reform, integrity and transparency in government should not be partisan issues.”

In a Talk Business interview on Friday, House Speaker Davy Carter (R-Cabot) and State Sen. Jonathan Dismang (R-Beebe) joined Sabin in saying they support reforms to the state’s ethics laws.

“I think there’s some things we could do through Senate and House rules that would provide more clarity and strengthen some areas that are gray,” Dismang said.

He also said there is interest from members to form a task force that could hold hearings in the interim or during a fiscal session to start working on reforms for the 2015 regular session.

“It is up to every Arkansas legislator to work to earn and keep the trust of the people of Arkansas. We must lead through our actions, and work with urgency to put in place clear, common-sense rules that hold all elected public officials accountable for their actions,” said Rep. Greg Leding (D-Fayetteville), the House Minority Leader.