State lawmakers blur line between public, personal interests
A recent change in
The change passed by the state Legislature last year wasn't just good for Chelgren's businesses. It was brought about in part by Chelgren himself. The
Chelgren isn't the only state lawmaker doing his outside interests a favor. A
State lawmakers around the country have introduced and supported policies that directly and indirectly help their own businesses, their employers and sometimes their personal finances, according to an analysis of disclosure forms and legislative votes by the
The news organizations found numerous examples in which lawmakers' votes had the effect of promoting their private interests. Even then, the votes did not necessarily represent a conflict of interest as defined by the state.
That's because legislatures set their own rules for when lawmakers should recuse themselves. In some states, lawmakers are required to vote despite any ethical dilemmas.
Many lawmakers defend votes that benefit their businesses or industries, saying they bring important expertise to the debate.
Chelgren said the
"We have way too many people who have been in government their whole lives and don't know how to make sure that a payroll is met," the Republican said.
He said the tax change had only a negligible effect on his business, saving it a few hundred dollars a year.
Iowa
"We have to keep the public's trust," said
CITIZEN LEGISLATURES
There's no shortage of support for the "citizen legislature" concept that operates in most statehouses — that lawmakers should not be professional politicians, but instead ordinary citizens with day jobs. The idea is that those lawmakers can better relate to the concerns of their constituents and bring real-world experience to making policy.
Forty states have governing bodies that the
To assess lawmakers' outside employment, the
The Center found that at least 76 percent of state lawmakers nationwide reported outside income or employment. Many of those sources are directly affected by the actions of the legislatures. By comparison, members of
The financial information lawmakers disclose about outside work varies widely from state to state. In
Ethics rules often allow members to participate in debates and even vote when they have a potential conflict. Recusal is frequently up to the lawmaker.
Two states,
"We all bring to the table what we know, what our jobs are," said
MUDDIED MOTIVATIONS
Another
And last year, while his firm,
Kieckhefer, a former Associated Press reporter, said a firewall divides his firm's lobbying from its legal work, the division where he works. He defended
"I'm not reliant on support from lobbyists or special interests to keep the job I have to support my family," he said.
Ethics rules are some of many government policies that state legislatures get to write for themselves. Many, for instance, exempt their members from open records and meetings laws that apply to other agencies.
Some states are working to strengthen measures that would prevent conflicts of interest. Ballot initiatives for 2018 are underway in
"I have been clear from the beginning of this episode that I have done nothing wrong," Morhaim said in an email. "The reprimand issued was for not following the 'intent' of the rules, a wholly new and undefined standard."
DOUBLE DUTY
In
Then-House Speaker
"I follow the rules of the
Other lawmakers have used public office to polish their day-job credentials.
In
Kasper, a Republican who owns a company that coordinates insurance benefits, has counted two of the colleges among the hundreds of clients he has had over the years. One has been his customer for nearly three decades.
He said he sponsored the bills because he cares about addressing unemployment near Native American reservations.
"Nothing was hidden," he said. "I wouldn't have done it if I didn't feel it was the right thing to do."
Lawmakers don't always choose to cast votes that benefit their private interests. West
Within days, Frontier fired him, though it denies it was because of his vote. Spokesman
Carmichael said citizen legislators frequently feel pressure from outside income sources but usually do the right thing.
"We often feel the influences of employment," he said. "In my case, the net result is that I lost my job."
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