Thread: Just trust them to be ethical

Just trust them to be ethical

Even as they dog paddle through a stinking sea of sleaze, North Carolina's lawmakers don't seem serious about cleaning themselves up. They just want us to think they have.

True, the Honorables seem resigned to taking a few steps that could lessen the influence in Raleigh of the well-financed and well-connected.

But they're balking at one of the most important proposals: to prevent lobbyists from raising money for their campaigns.

And now some of them want to keep ethics complaints secret unless their buddies find their offenses so flagrant and indefensible that punishment is unavoidable. That would be a huge step backward.

Under an order issued by Gov. Mike Easley, ethics complaints can remain secret unless they're considered credible enough to justify a hearing. It's open to the public, as are any investigative reports.

That openness would disappear if the Honorables pass a new secrecy act. Sen. Tony Rand, one of the state's top Democrats, says it would protect the good names of politicians.

It's a little late for that.

http://www.wilmingtonstar.com/apps/pbcs ... /607260407

Democrats, says it would protect the good names of politicians.

OK. Guys like Ted Kennedy.

Dixie

I knew you would respond to that one Dixie.

That openness would disappear if the Honorables pass a new secrecy act. Sen. Tony Rand, one of the state's top Democrats, says it would protect the good names of politicians.

Oh dear, you mean I was so wrong? You mean, gasp, they have good names???? I'm from Miami, nuf said!