Decision Soon On Ethics Panel Lawsuit?
The Ethics Commission apparently will decide soon if it will file a lawsuit against the Legislature over what its members say is a lack of funding for the agency.
Commission Chairman Don Bingham says a lawsuit is being discussed despite a move that freed up an additional $50,000 for the ethics panel. Governor Henry vetoed a requirement for the commission to spend $50,000 on campaign reporting software that commissioners said they didn't need or want.
The commission wants at least one more investigator, but lawmakers didn't authorize a new position.
For the 2009 fiscal year, the Ethics Commission will get about $667,000, a 30 percent increase. The commission requested about $906,000.
Bingham said the commission's budget does not provide enough money to fulfill the requirements established in a constitutional amendment in 1990 that created it.
Commission Chairman Don Bingham says a lawsuit is being discussed despite a move that freed up an additional $50,000 for the ethics panel. Governor Henry vetoed a requirement for the commission to spend $50,000 on campaign reporting software that commissioners said they didn't need or want.
The commission wants at least one more investigator, but lawmakers didn't authorize a new position.
For the 2009 fiscal year, the Ethics Commission will get about $667,000, a 30 percent increase. The commission requested about $906,000.
Bingham said the commission's budget does not provide enough money to fulfill the requirements established in a constitutional amendment in 1990 that created it.
Labels: Ethics Commission Funding
posted by Mike McCarville @ 9:31 AM
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