Della's Question of the Week #4: Can a ConCon propose ethics reforms?

[Della Au Belatti]

We’ve got 23 more questions to go until Election Day 2008. I thought it would be a good time to begin exploring issues - either issues raised here at this website, at other public forums, or in the many discussions I have had with individuals on all things ConCon. Improving ethics in government is one issue that comes up frequently as a reason to have a ConCon.

Opinion Polls & Market Research

There is no short supply of critics who point out the “loose ethics” at the Legislature. During my short two years in elected office, the Legislature has struggled to police itself and very little has actually been done in enacting ethics laws that the public has any confidence in.

So, can a ConCon implement ethics reforms that the Legislature simply won’t enact? If you think this is possible – what are some of those reforms that might gain public support?

[Peter Kay]

Ditto for me on the "career" concept. I always felt that being in public office should be like getting drafted in the Military: you do your duty for your country but then after a few years you come back out to the private sector.

If you want to be a career govt. person, there are plenty civil service positions you can take and stay there for as long as you wish.

[Kaunaloa]

as a limited government guy, i'm all about term limits -- esp. since we already have them for the executive -- that [imo] clearly **necessitates** them for the legislative. and while della may not like hearing that from one of her very own constituents, well, she needs to understand that i fully support term limits regardless of who's sitting in the seat; i surely respect y'all, but, much as they may enjoy the job it **never** should be a career position ...

[Peter Kay]

I have to agree with Richard. Look at what's happening with the City Council: no one challenges the incumbents because it just costs too much to develop the name recognition. So people just wait out their term, essentially requiring that SOMEONE run.

I consider Della my friend and know that term limits affect her position, but just the same, I think it would do some good.

But I'm just an armchair political observer. I'd like to hear what the experts say.

[Richard]

The best ethics law we could have out of the ConCon is term limits. Crooks will be crooks no matter what. The ethics laws we have now, with some fine tuning, will keep honest people honest. The crooks will always find a way to cheat.

[Kaunaloa]

"If policymakers will do it themselves, then no."

given we have a multi-decade track record of them not doing it, i too say YES.

[Curtis Muraoka]

If teeth in ethics laws need to be installed, who in a position of power would volunteer to be the dentist?
For example, Sunshine Law is kind of a joke. If Office of Information Practices issues a scathing opinion, there is still no force of law behind it.
I witnessed Charter School Executive Director Jim Shon's firing back in 2006, and the subsequent foot dragging by the BOE to give a rational reason for the ouster. And even when OIP determined that the BOE was not nearly as forthcoming as it should have been, the matter was just swept under the carpet.
Now, with the redacted Sugar Bowl roster coming out of the UH Athletic Dept, it seems like openness in government is not a standard practice.
Senor El Marko seems the key to spending state money and power-tripping with impunity.
Is the Con Con the right venue to give OIP power to do more than just castigate?
If policymakers will do it themselves, then no.
But I think I have to say yes.

[Kaunaloa]

since ethics issues are so historically bad within the local political caste [for whatever reasons] yeah, i think that actually rises to the level of being necessary to include them within the constitutional framework.