Rules on Ethics Create Side Effects in Statehouses Lawmakers See Benefits and Perils of New Anticorruption Laws

Garry Boulard, Monitor, The Christian Science Monitor

IN response to a series of scandals, state legislatures across the country have begun implementing measures requiring higher standards of conduct among their members, less contact with lobbyists, and more open ways of doing business.

But now that most of the new rules are in place, some lawmakers are wondering when is enough too much.

"We might have gone overboard with some ethics laws," says Walter Baker (R), a state senator in Kentucky. "The end result is that there has been an inhibition on the operation of state government."

Paul Hillegonds (R), the Co-Speaker of Michigan's House of Representatives, is also worried: "My attitude has changed. I …

Questia, a part of Gale, Cengage Learning. www.questia.com
Publication information: Article title: Rules on Ethics Create Side Effects in Statehouses Lawmakers See Benefits and Perils of New Anticorruption Laws. Contributors: Garry Boulard, Monitor - Author. Newspaper title: The Christian Science Monitor. Publication date: August 3, 1994. Page number: 4. © 2009 The Christian Science Publishing Society. Provided by ProQuest LLC. All Rights Reserved.

This material is protected by copyright and, with the exception of fair use, may not be further copied, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means.