Arkansas Blog

Enforcement clauses are red herrings. If the majority of representatives believe it needs an enforcement clause I think they have all learned how to propose and vote on an amendment.

What we really need is someone with the stomach to stand up to this kind of nonsense and show some real backbone. I reference Sen. Johnson's comments in the paper today. The one politician with the guts to say what he thinks without hiding behind the old red herring trick.

One thing this little exercise has done is show where Benny Petrus has been all along on ethics reform. He made a big show with passing a package of bills in the last session, and only John Brummett believed that Petrus was really serious about the enterprise. Everyone else knew that those bills would go nowhere in the Senate. It is not surprising that Speaker Petrus now has "concerns" about a nearly meaningless change in House rules to require legislators to report the "gifts" they are pocketing. Like assessing adequate severance taxes on the oil and gas industry in Arkansas, ethics reform to clean up the lobbyists largess and chummy influence will be passed only when the people care enough to draft, propose, and enact it by initiated act.

ARK. BLOG: Amen.

Look at the Dem-Gaz for a good look at this in more depth. Appears Benny just wants to pull up the ladder after he's enjoyed the fruits of lobbyists. Shame shame. It's not what you say, it's what you do.....

Let me clarify, meant the Dem-Gaz editorial today.

ARK. BLOG: That editorial was just right in its conclusion. A tough law is the only solution. I modestly note that I wrote this same suggestion a couple of weeks ago.

Bob Johnson says he worried that the rule would add another layer of paperwork for lawmakers. He said they're stretched for time and resources already. The DemGaz should have pointed out that Sen. Johnson hasn't even been complying with existing campaign finance laws. No wonder he's against ethics.