Clarion LedgerChris Joyner • August 7, 2008
The U.S. Department of Justice has given its OK for Mississippi to put into action the state's most sweeping government ethics and transparency reform in decades.
Gov. Haley Barbour signed into law in May a bill that gives the Mississippi Ethics Commission significantly more authority.
Because the law touches on portions of state law dealing with the election and removal of public officials, it required federal approval before it could go into effect. In a letter sent Tuesday, the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division informed state officials that U.S. Attorney General Michael Mukasey "does not interpose any objection" to the law.
Among other provisions, the law:
# Gives the commission authority to mediate disputes over open meetings and public records and issue rulings or opinions based on the law.
# Expands the number of public officials who must file economic conflict of interest statements and requires the reports to be posted to the commission Web site.
# Doubles the fines for ethics violations to $10,000.
Dick Johnson, chairman of the Mississippi chapter of Common Cause, said the legislation is "a substantial step forward" in promoting ethical and open government in the state.
"It's the sort of thing we have been working on. We talked with (Ethics Commission Executive Director) Tom Hood a while back on it," he said. "We've been pleased to see it go along and develop."
No offense to Du'ers from Mississippi. Ethic and Mississippi is an oxymoron, I have been po'ed with MS leadership since Katrina and now by the recent
State Farm settlement.