Ethics bill clears House Judiciary
by Jared Hunt
Daily Mail Capitol Reporter
Charleston Daily Mail
 

A bill that would toughen the state's ethics laws cleared the House Judiciary Committee on Thursday.

The measure now will be voted on by the full House of Delegates. 

Committee members unanimously endorsed the bill, which would prohibit statewide elected officials, legislators, cabinet secretaries and state department heads from being employed as lobbyists within one year of leaving their positions.

It also would prevent those officers' senior staff members from being employed as lobbyists for one year after the officer they served under left office.

"We wanted to prevent those people who are in a position of influence in government from quitting a job and going out and becoming a lobbyist who will in turn come back and use that influence they have for private gain," said House Judiciary Chairman Tim Miley, D-Harrison.

The bill also would require lawmakers and agency heads to begin reporting spouse financial and employment information along with their own.

However, that provision would not apply to spouses who do not live together, either because they're legally separated or just choose different primary residences and file separate tax returns.

Members of both sides of the aisle have said passing ethics reform was a top priority this year and they want to move quickly on it.

The House passed a similar bill last year. The measure then cleared the Senate Judiciary Committee but died in the Senate Finance Committee.

Miley said he hopes the bill will have a better chance of passing the Senate this year because of new leadership on the Senate Finance Committee. Sens. Roman Prezioso, D-Marion, and Doug Facemire, D-Braxton, have replaced the former chairman and vice-chairman, Sen. Walt Helmick, D-Pocahontas, and Sen. Brooks McCabe, D-Kanawha.

Contact writer Jared Hunt at jared.hunt@dailymail.com  or 304-348-5148.

 A bill that would toughen the state's ethics laws cleared the House Judiciary Committee on Thursday.
The measure now will be voted on by the full House of Delegates. 

Committee members unanimously endorsed the bill, which would prohibit statewide elected officials, legislators, cabinet secretaries and state department heads from being employed as lobbyists within one year of leaving their positions.

It also would prevent those officers' senior staff members from being employed as lobbyists for one year after the officer they served under left office.

"We wanted to prevent those people who are in a position of influence in government from quitting a job and going out and becoming a lobbyist who will in turn come back and use that influence they have for private gain," said House Judiciary Chairman Tim Miley, D-Harrison.

The bill also would require lawmakers and agency heads to begin reporting spouse financial and employment information along with their own.

However, that provision would not apply to spouses who do not live together, either because they're legally separated or just choose different primary residences and file separate tax returns.

Members of both sides of the aisle have said passing ethics reform was a top priority this year and they want to move quickly on it.

The House passed a similar bill last year. The measure then cleared the Senate Judiciary Committee but died in the Senate Finance Committee.

Miley said he hopes the bill will have a better chance of passing the Senate this year because of new leadership on the Senate Finance Committee. Sens. Roman Prezioso, D-Marion, and Doug Facemire, D-Braxton, have replaced the former chairman and vice-chairman, Sen. Walt Helmick, D-Pocahontas, and Sen. Brooks McCabe, D-Kanawha.

Contact writer Jared Hunt at jared.h...@dailymail.com  or 304-348-5148.