One of the most powerful lobbyists in the United
States has come out strongly in favor of independent, effective
local government ethics programs. The lobbyist is AARP. Here is a
quote from p. 1-13 of <a href="http://aarp54390.tizrapublisher.com/fullchapter-1/%7E%7EPdfSource/0" target="”_blank”">the
Government Integrity and Civic Engagement chapter</a> (notably,
Chapter 1) of AARP's latest Policy Book:<blockquote>
Government at all levels should establish and adequately fund
independent nonpartisan commissions to create and enforce ethics and
lobbying regulations.</blockquote>
This appears to be a simple sentence, but it calls for a lot of things most
local government ethics programs lack.<br>
<br>
An AARP local ethics commission would be "independent," whereas most
commissions are dependent on the mayor, council, and/or city or
county attorney's office.<br>
<br>
An AARP local ethics commission would be "adequately funded,"
whereas most commissions have no funding at all, and those in
larger jurisdictions are inadequately funded.<br>
<br>
An AARP local ethics commission would be "nonpartisan," whereas most
commissions are bipartisan.<br>
<br>
An AARP local ethics commission would write ethics rules, whereas in
almost every city and county, ethics rules are written by the local
or state legislative body.<br>
<br>
And an AARP local ethics commission would enforce these ethics rules,
whereas most commissions have no or limited enforcement powers.<br>
<br>
In other words, this is probably the most radical statement on local
government ethics ever to come from a lobbying organization. Thank
you, AARP. This is the first time I have actually considered joining
your organization.<br>
<br>
Robert Wechsler<br>
Director of Research-Retired, City Ethics<br>
<br>
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