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Nix the $249.99 day Now that legislators are making nearly $50,000 a year, thanks to the 62 percent pay raise they granted themselves last week, they should be more than willing to pass a new ethics law that will drastically cut the monetary gifts that they can accept from lobbyists. Now lobbyists do not have to report any daily expenditure on a public official- legislators included- unless it reaches $250. As a result many smart and talented lobbyists (and there are a lot of them) quickly learn how to add up to $249.99. A day of golfing at one of Alabama's better courses or a deep sea fishing trip and dinner at one of the state's top restaurants can usually be worked out for less than the reportable limit. And if one day of such courting isn't enough, it can be repeated the next day and the next, if a lobbyist thinks it is needed. The limit is per day with no maximum cap. A bill to reform Alabama's ethics laws, sponsored by Rep. Mac Gipson, R-Prattville, would lower that $250 to $25 a day with an annual limit of $500. That would bring Alabama in line with what most other states allow. The ethics legislation would also tighten the reporting requirements for the annual statements of interest required of all public officials and public employees making more than $50,000 a year. Now the ranges of reporting income and indebtedness are so broad as to be of little use to anyone looking for financial conflicts of interest or other questionable actions. The bill would also strengthen the Alabama Ethics Commission's authority by giving it much-needed subpoena power. Under the present law an inquiry can only be started on the unanimous vote of all five members. This bill would change that to a more realistic three votes.
Legislators can go a long way toward redeeming themselves with the public by enacting these important ethics reform measures.
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