By Ashley Speagle
Correspondent
ATLANTA — Recent ethics scandals in the Georgia House stimulated voters’ and legislators’ interest in ethics reform for the 2010 legislative session.
Former House Speaker Glenn Richardson’s alleged affair with a lobbyist of Atlanta Gas Light Co. occurred as the company advocated for a bill that he co-sponsored, his wife, Susan Richardson, told Atlanta’s Fox 5 News.
“There will be ethics legislation as a fallout of this,” Rep. Roger Williams, R-Dalton, said at a legislative roundtable discussion with the Chattanooga Times Free Press.
Some Democrats prefiled ethics legislation, including Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver, D-Decatur, and Rep. Dubose Porter, D-Dublin, a member of the House Ethics Committee.
The legislation includes lower campaign contribution limits, a ban on gifts over $25 for legislators, a voluntary taxpayer fund for judicial campaigns, and expansion of the State Ethics Commission’s power and of the ethics requirements for public officials.
“Ethics legislation is an absolute necessity,” Rep. Martin Scott, R-Rossville, said. “We need to tighten up on gifts and limit meal gifts.”
During his campaign to replace Rep. Richardson as House speaker, Rep. David Ralston, R-Blue Ridge, said he will make ethics reform a priority and will help facilitate a Republican reform package.
Rep. Ralston also said he will reform leadership ethics by advocating abolishment of the “hawk” system, created under Rep. Richardson, which allows speaker-appointed representatives to cast votes in any committee.
Past ethics legislation may be reintroduced by Ethics Committee member Rep. Wendell Willard, R-Sandy Springs, which would limit gifts to $100 for legislators and propose lower limits on campaign contributions.
Gov. Sonny Perdue’s past ethics reform efforts may also reappear this session, especially with a new speaker who may subdue conflict between the House and the governor.
Some legislators say that ethics reform is not essential for everyone because of one representative’s public scandals.
“In large groups, there will be some that push the limits, and the mass is impacted by those few,” said Rep. Jay Neal, R-LaFayette.
“This casts everyone under suspicion, but I believe we only have a minority that deals with unethical practices,” said Sen. Don Thomas, R-Dalton.
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