Back again: Ethics reform in the air

TALK of ethical reform is once again making the rounds at the Capitol, with House Democrats placing reform atop their legislative agenda and the state Ethics Commission recently approving new rules regarding lobbyists and campaign funds. We'll see how much reform actually occurs.

Rep. Danny Morgan, D-Prague, says his caucus likes a proposal by Republican David Dank of Oklahoma City. Dank's bill would ban contributions during the session — something Tulsa Democrat Lucky Lamons has pushed for, unsuccessfully — as well as put a stop to transfers between political fundraising committees and mandate that lawmakers use political funds only for campaigns.

Lamons wants to give the Ethics Commission the funding it needs to track fundraising activity. The commission has just seven staff members who work in the Capitol basement; Lamons' bill would let the agency add staff and expand its crowded office.

The new commission rules are sure to bother lawmakers and lobbyists, because they reduce the amount lobbyists can spend. Dinner tabs would be capped at $100. Last year, dinners of $210 per lawmaker were reported by several lobbyists, something Commissioner John Raley called "sheer entertainment.”

The ethics panel also wants to require lobbyists to report spending that exceeds $10. Presently, lobbyists don't have to report expenditures below $50. Our preference has long been for all expenditures to be reported, no matter how small or large.

In the interest of transparency, the commission voted to stop the shady practice of transferring campaign contributions from one political action committee to another. This is one change that is overdue.

The trick will be getting any of these changes on the books. They'll take effect July 1 unless the House and Senate each vote to strike them down. Actions will show just how interested members are in reforming the way legislative business gets done.