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What’s New?
On July 27th, the General Assembly adopted the State Government Ethics Act (H1843) - a comprehensive ethics and lobbying reform bill. The legislation bans gifts to lawmakers, restricts campaign contributions from lobbyists, and creates an independent ethics commission. While this bill is a solid step forward and creates the framework for future reforms, we've got more work to do to ensure that access and influence aren't solid to the highest bidder.
To ensure that the General Assembly passes real reform, we need your help.
How you can help
E-mail your legislator and thank them for reforming our state ethics laws.
Brief Summary
The lottery scandal. Special favors for big campaign donors. Lobbyists brokering deals between their clients and powerful politicians.
Our government is supposed to be by, for and of the people. These days, it seems like it’s run for the benefit of the well-connected.
We can’t change human nature. Ambition and greed will always overtake the better instincts of some politicians. But we can make it illegal for powerful lobbyists to curry favor with elected officials. And we can hold public officials accountable for unethical behavior.
That’s why NCPIRG is working to ban gifts to legislators and to create an independent ethics commission with real enforcement powers – real reform for North Carolina. More.
Hodge-podge of ethics approach demands independent panel, The News and Observer 3/10/06
