The standard of proof for determining whether an ethical violation
occurred has become an issue in Louisiana's ethics reform. After
looking at several local government ethics codes, as well as the
ethics codes of the states that have jurisdiction over local government
officials, I don't think standards of proof have become <span>enough
</span>of an issue in most jurisdictions.<br>
<br>

In the materials I have found online, Speech or Debate Clause issues are discussed in terms of state legislators (and usually state constitutions), even though the federal Speech or Debate Clause applies equally to local government legislators. But the discussions are all relevant to local government situations.<br>
<br>
I will continue to add to this list, and I'd appreciate receiving information about other discussions of these issues.<br>
<br>

The decision of the Louisiana First Circuit Court of Appeal in <a href="http://www.la-fcca.org/Opinions/Pub2008/2008-05/2007CW2342May2008.Pub.1…; target="”_blank”">In
re Arnold</a> (May 23, 2008) causes serious problems with respect to
ethics enforcement against local government legislators, at least in
Louisiana. It opens up a can of worms that I haven't seen discussed

The Northwest Austin Municipal Utility District Number One doesn't like
having to get approval from the federal government for changes in its
voting policy, in order to prevent racial discrimination; it says that
everything's fine and dandy in Northwest Austin. The requirement can be
found in Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act, extended in 2006.<br>
<br>
NAMUDNO, which apparently doesn't think the Voting Rights Act should
have been extended, because racial discrimination is a thing of the

The land deals of Congressman Gary Miller (R-Diamond Bar, CA) could
provide fodder for numerous blog entries on various topics. <a href="http://www.cityethics.org/node/230&quot; target="”_blank”">I wrote about him and ethics
recidivism</a>, to show how important it is to deal with a local
politician's unethical actions so that they don't turn into much bigger
ones as he rises through the ranks.<br>
<br>

Six weeks after<a href="http://www.cityethics.org/node/410&quot; target="”_blank”"> my blog
entry</a> on the mass resignations in Eastern Oregon towns due to new
financial disclosure requirements, the predictions of government coming
to an end (still being fanned to flames by <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,358524,00.html&quot; target="”_blank”">Fox News</a>)

It took a long time for Egil "Bud" Krogh to write his book on
Watergate, but it finally came out a few months ago.<br>
<br>
Krogh is not one of the better known Watergaters, partly because he
pleaded guilty to his crimes. But as the head of the Plumbers, in
charge of investigating leaks to the press, he oversaw the break-in of
the office of Daniel Ellsberg's psychiatrist. For years he has been

One of the most frustrating problems many cities and counties face is
all that untaxable land owned by nonprofit organizations. Some states,
such as my state, Connecticut, pay local governments part of what they
lose out in property taxes, but when things are hard, as now, and the
taxes are most sorely needed, there's less in the kitty to hand out.<br>
<br>

<a href="http://www.modbee.com/local/story/308760.html&quot; target="”_blank”">An article in
today's Modesto Bee</a> provides an excellent example of problems that
arise when a city's redevelopment is accomplished by people who can
benefit directly from it.<br>
<br>
The five-person Riverbank, California Council has three members who own

According to <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/23/washington/23justice.html&quot; target="”_blank”">an
article</a> in today's New York <span>Times</span>,
a spokesperson for Christopher Christie, the U.S. Attorney for New
Jersey, spoke in defense of an agreement made with Bristol-Myers Squibb to avoid
its prosecution, which agreement called for the company to endow a