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NEWS FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: MICK BULLOCK 601-441-0701 2.14.08 - In a unanimous and bipartisan effort, the Mississippi Senate passed legislation making sweeping changes to the States ethics laws. Senate Bill 2983, part of Lieutenant Governor Phil Bryant's Accountability Agenda, passed 46/0. The bill brings increased accountability to State Government. This ethics legislation covers everything from open meeting violations to enabling the Ethics commission to censure corrupt government officials including recommending removal from office. The bill provides essential sunshine to economic interest statements. Under this legislation the public will be able to view electronically the sources from which their elected officials receive income. Currently, citizens have to request this information from the ethics commission which can take up to 14 days. It also addresses non commercial loan disclosure. If a public official receives a non-commercial loan over $2,000, then according to SB 2983, that loan has to be reported with stiff penalties if it is not. This is yet another sunshine amendment that opens government for citizen review. "I stated from the beginning of the campaign that I would help bring ethics reform to Mississippi and this is a great testament to keeping that promise," stated Lieutenant Governor Phil Bryant. "Not only does SB 2983 have teeth, but it has bite. I appreciate the work of Senator Merle Flowers, Chairman of the Senate Ethics Committee and Tom Hood, the Director of the Ethics Commission, for helping champion this monumental piece of legislation." Senate Bill 2983 clarifies and makes changes to the following: § The duties and the authority of the Ethics Commission. § Procedure for ethics complaints. § The list of those required to file statements of economic interests. § Impose penalties for those who fail to file statements of economic interest electronically. § Authorizes the Ethics Commission to exercise civil enforcement authority. § Clarifies and strengthens the rules against abuse of public office. § Grants enforcement authority to the Ethics Commission over the open meetings law. "The Senate Ethics Reform bill is the most comprehensive, sweeping ethics legislation in over three decades. The bill provides much needed sunshine to economic interest reports, open meetings, private loans to public officials, and stiffer penalties for violations. After all of the recent judiciary bribery scandals, it's time to help restore the public's trust in the integrity of our government," said Sen. Merle Flowers, Chairman of the Senate Ethics Committee.
Phil Bryant was sworn-in as Mississippi's Lieutenant Governor on January 10, 2008 after capturing 59% of the vote in the November election. He started his career in public service as a Hinds County Deputy Sheriff and was elected to the Mississippi House of Representatives from District 59 in Rankin County in 1992 and re-elected in 1995. Bryant was appointed State Auditor by the late Governor Kirk Fordice and re-elected overwhelmingly in 1999 and without opposition in 2003. ### |
