Editor: Opportunity For Ethics Reform Is At Hand
The Daily Advertiser (excerpt)

The most recent attempt to pass meaningful ethics legislation was by LA Ethics 1. It would have required legislators to disclose more of their personal finances. The Center for Public Integrity ranks Louisiana fifth from the bottom in terms of openness about how legislators earn their money and how their personal business may conflict with their public decisions.

The failure of the bill was not surprising. Legislators had a workable strategy for derailing it. They simply extended it so the rules would apply to virtually every state and local elected official in Louisiana, thus creating an overpowering contingent of opponents to the measure. That level of opposition allowed lawmakers to push the bill to the side and let it die.

Jindal can expect some creative strategy when he presents his ethics package. If it passes, it faces the prospect of being crippled by amendments and loopholes.

While ways have always been found to kill ethics measures or make them weak and useless, there is reason for hope as Jindal takes office. Because of term limits, there will be an unprecedented number of new faces in the Legislature. Hopefully, the new delegates will not have the negative attitude toward ethics reform that has been obvious in the actions of so many long-time incumbents.

Also, LA Ethics 1, a coalition of 50 business and public interest groups, has not given up. The organization will continue the battle as Jindal and the new legislators take office.

With a determined governor, new legislators and strong pressure from private citizens, this could be the year that real ethics reform comes to Louisiana.