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House caucus to consider ethics reform Wednesday, Oct 10, 2007 By Rob Moritz Arkansas News Bureau LITTLE ROCK - A pair of state representatives said Tuesday they would ask House colleagues during a caucus next week to consider a new rule on disclosing gifts from lobbyists. House Speaker Benny Petrus, D-Stuttgart, who proposed new ethics laws during this year's regular session, said he has a number of questions about the proposed rule change. The House caucus is scheduled for Oct. 18 in the House chamber. Reps. Steve Harrelson, D-Texarkana, and Dan Greenberg, R-Little Rock, said in a news release Tuesday that a proposed new rule would require House members to disclose on a monthly basis the nature, value and date of a lobbyist's gift, as well as the name of the lobbyist who gave them food, gifts, services and other valuables, regardless of the cost. Greenberg said the proposal is similar to an ethics bill Petrus filed during the legislative session that passed the House but died in a Senate committee. The rule "would bring us close to the intent that the House expressed during our legislative session to pass strong ethics rules," Greenberg said. Petrus proposed requiring lobbyists to report details to the state when they spend money on lawmakers. Currently, legislators can receive up to $100 in gifts, food or other items a day from an individual lobbyist, and lobbyists are required to report to the state when they spend more than $40 on a legislator in a day. Greenberg said he also favored requiring lobbyists to disclose to the House what they spend on members, but said he was not sure that could be done by House rule. Petrus said later Tuesday he knew about the proposal and had some concerns. "I'm going to have to study this," the House speaker said. "I am totally in favor of ethics laws, but I don't think I favor ethics rules where just one body has to adhere to them." Petrus said he wanted to know more about penalties should a lawmaker violate the rule, who would compile the information and whether more House employees would be needed to handle the extra work. Greenberg said he understood Petrus' concerns and hoped to discuss the issue with him before next week's caucus. As for penalties, Greenberg said members who violate House rules can currently be brought up for expulsion, if the violation is severe enough, including failure to file a disclosure report. "There is always the option of expulsion and this would be enforced just like other rules," Greenberg said. The disclosure information would be provided to the clerk of the House and would be subject to the state Freedom of Information Act, Greenberg said. He said he doubted additional employees would be needed. Petrus said he scheduled the House caucus to discuss minor changes to the rules that govern the operation of the chamber. Anyone who wants to propose rule changes is allowed to do so, but all changes must be approved by at least 67 votes - a two-thirds majority in the 100-member House, he said. |
