Arkansas Blog: Conflict of interest R Us

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Conflict of interest R Us

Rep. Kathy Webb got her vote today on the modest bill to discourage state board members (through fines) from voting on matters on which they KNOW they or family or employer have a financial conflict of interest. The Farm Bureau and the Chamber of Commerce insisted that their subsidiary legislators vote against this bill. They gave no good reasons.

The vote was 38-47-1. The roll call will be here eventually. I'm most interested not just in the "nays," but in those 14 too chicken to vote. (Though absence is same as a no.) Hmm. Chicken. Freudian slip.

Roll call is now up. Shame on Les Carnine, again. He voted "present," effectively a no vote. The temperate school superintendent we once knew in Little Rock apparently shed any pretense of moderation to get and hold onto a legislative seat from Republandia. Though, here, a number of Republicans were on the right side.

Posted by Max Brantley on March 31, 2009 02:04 PM | Permalink

Comments

The only "ethics" legislation we have today was passed by Initiated Act. Probably time to do it again.

Posted by: TheodosiusAR | March 31, 2009 02:11 PM

I've written Rep English to ask her why she voted against....Since she hasn't answered any of my other emails for this session, I wonder if she'll answer this one.

Posted by: EY | March 31, 2009 02:25 PM

I have the same problem... writing legislators and getting no response. For example, I'm still hoping for an answer to this simple question: "What is the definition of HYPOGYCGOUDOLEBOISM that appears in HB2204??"

Posted by: jcd | March 31, 2009 02:39 PM

I don't see my rep, John Edwards, on any of the lists.

How did he vote? (I would assume with the Yeas, but he's conspicuously missing.)

ARK. BLOG: He voted for it. Find his name listed as "J. Edwards"

Posted by: ThermosDay | March 31, 2009 03:40 PM

Shame on English, Garner, and Kerr. Troglodytes all. Kudos to Clemmer and Greenberg.

OF course, English is a former (?) lobbyist so ethics are probably not her strong suit. Garner already adopted a self-directed stimulus plan by not paying sales taxes. Kerr would do better to fall in with Greenberg and Clemmer.

Posted by: TheodosiusAR | April 1, 2009 12:30 AM

Hey, come to think of it maybe Carnine thought he had a conflict to vote for this. He might want a board post some day... Just doing the ethical thing to abstain, dontcha know...

Posted by: TheodosiusAR | April 1, 2009 12:45 AM

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