Rep. Hanna Gives retrospect on Ethics Bill

From Rep. Hanna Press Release 6-28-07:

REP. HANNA SUPPORTS LAW COMMISSION’S ETHICS REFORMS;
OPPOSES DEMOCRATIC PLAN TO LIMIT SPEECH,
BURDEN LOCAL OFFICIALS

SALEM””Rep. Bruce Hanna (R-Roseburg) Thursday supported ethics reforms recommended by the Oregon Law Commission to limit gifts, require more frequent reporting and to increase penalties for ethics violations. He opposed the Democratic “majority report” to Senate Bill 10 that will limit free speech and burden locally elected officials and volunteers with assessments and paperwork.

“We need real ethics reform, not political posturing,” Rep. Hanna said. “The Legislature should have approved the Law Commission’s recommendations that would have respected our constitution and provided flexibility to our local elected officials and volunteers. Instead, we passed legislation that will immediately be challenged in court, and will nullify many of advances we’ve made on this important issue.”

Rep. Hanna said the Democratic legislation that passed the House will burden local officials and volunteers with excessive paperwork. He said the legislation and its bureaucracy will dissuade Oregonians from serving their communities.

“The Law Commission’s sound recommendations were disregarded,” Rep. Hanna said. “Democrats passed SB 10 without regard for the impact on our diverse, hard working local government partners. Elected officials are ultimately accountable to their constituents.”
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