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By a.coalson, on January 22nd, 2010%
An ethics complaint was filed this week against Ray McBerry, and 11 others running for office around the state. The complaint is based upon the failure of each candidate to file their Campaign Contribution Disclosure Report with the State Ethics Commission.
The report is due no later than January 8th, which is the end of the grace period for filing. As of today at the time of this writing, McBerry and the others still have not filed. The report discloses cash on hand, individual contributions, and expenditures among other things.
McBerry, a Republican candidate for Governor, is campaigning on the promise of totally restructuring state government. It looks like he is trying to get started before he’s even elected.
The others candidates are:
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By Jeff, on January 4th, 2010%
At the very front of what I’m about to say, let me note that this is just an idea I’ve been thinking about that may or may not work. Based on my own thinking right now, I think it might, and it is certainly a different approach than what we’ve got right now, which is largely a paper tiger. Obviously, the point in writing this at all is that I would like public discussion on it, so feel free to have at it!
Sam Olens told me a couple of weeks ago that if the Cobb County Commission violates the State’s transparency laws, they can be fined a whopping $100 per occurrence, and suggested that for the laws to have any real teeth, there needed to be an extra zero on that number.
That was the quote in particular that has stuck with me since that interview, floating in the back of my mind. As with many of my solutions, after percolating back there for a while, it finally comes to me, as this one has:
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By Jeff, on December 22nd, 2009%
under Republican Attorney General Candidate Sam Olens‘ proposed ethics reforms.
According to Bludgeon and Skewer, State Rep Hardie Davis still hasn’t paid $100 in ethics fines for failing to properly file required ethics disclosures regarding his current State House seat.
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By Publius, on December 14th, 2009%
Note from Jeff: This is Gary Horlacher‘s ethics article. He is running for the Democratic nomination for Secretary of State.
Broken and in dire need of repair.
Georgia’s government has a responsibility to function openly, honestly, efficiently, and with integrity. The conduct of public officials is important when entrusted to oversee the public’s affairs. Transparency and Accountability have been intentionally erased in recent years by our current leadership. We need a much sharper focus on ETHICS. Over the last several years, there has been a serious erosion of the public’s trust in government, at every level, national, state, and local, because of an incredible number of cases of corruption and serious ethical and moral breaches.
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By Publius, on December 12th, 2009%
Note from Jeff: I am actively reaching out and asking all four candidates who have announced ethics reform plans to give me something to post here from them. If any others announce plans in the future, I will afford them the same opportunity here. This is what I recieved from Karen Handel.
-Says That Legislature Can Do It Now or She’ll Do It As Governor-
ATLANTA – Secretary of State Karen Handel today called for what she referred to as comprehensive ethics reform at the Georgia State Capitol after decades of ‘business as usual’ under the Gold Dome.
“We are fortunate to have many dedicated members of the legislature. This is an opportunity for all of us to take significant measures to end the culture of insider dealings, conflicts of interest and behavior that no one should be proud of but has been with us for decades. Republicans and Democrats are equally responsible and it’s time that it is finally addressed, Handel said today. “We need to restore faith in our political process and trust in our elected officials and we need to do it now. It’s time we get the people’s house in order.”
Handel today proposed a series of ethics reforms that she is hopeful the Legislature will consider in the upcoming session. If they are not adopted, she will push the reforms in her first legislative session as Governor.
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By Publius, on December 11th, 2009%
The following was written by State Rep Austin Scott (R-Tifton), the only Republican member of the State House of Representatives that is running for Governor. I first saw it on Georgia Political Digest.
Many people feel that government is excessive, unresponsive, and corrupt. The worst part is that they feel powerless to do anything about it. Last week, we saw the downfall of the Speaker of the Georgia House of Representatives, Glenn Richardson, amid a wave of scandal that threatens to shake the Georgia Republican Party to its core. Serious allegations were made that the Speaker had an affair with a lobbyist who was pushing legislation that ultimately could have cost the taxpayers of Georgia millions of dollars.
In fairness, political corruption is most often attributed to one party: the majority party. It seems that no matter who is in control, Democrats or Republicans, the power corrupts. But now is the time to do something about it. And that something is to give the people the tools they need to fight corruption effectively.
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By Jeff, on August 19th, 2009%
Conclusions:
HB 91: SUPPORT Rating: 9
HB 92: OPPOSE Rating: 1
HB 93: SUPPORT Rating: 6
HB 94: SUPPORT Rating: 9
HB 95: SUPPORT Rating: 10
HB 96: OPPOSE Rating: 4
HB 97: OPPOSE Rating: 1
HB 98: SUPPORT Rating: 7
HB 99: OPPOSE Rating: 1
HB 100: OPPOSE Rating: 4
[Commentary]
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State House Bills I Find Interesting (HB 91 – HB 100)
Conclusions:
HB 91: SUPPORT Rating: 9
HB 92: OPPOSE Rating: 1
HB 93: SUPPORT Rating: 6
HB 94: SUPPORT Rating: 9
HB 95: SUPPORT Rating: 10
HB 96: OPPOSE Rating: 4
HB 97: OPPOSE Rating: 1
HB 98: SUPPORT Rating: 7
HB 99: OPPOSE Rating: 1
HB 100: OPPOSE Rating: 4
[Commentary]