Now that voters have approved a change in the state’s Constitution regarding ethics for elected officials, there has to be legislation to get it implemented – and to write rules.
Lawmakers are looking at two competing measures. One is sponsored by Sen. Tim Mathern (D-Fargo), who calls his measure a “simple three-part bill.”
"It says, 'Get the ethics commission to work, study the sticky issues in the interim, and in the next session, do the full implementation,'" Mathern said.
That bill would establish the five-member state Ethics Commission.
The other bill is sponsored by the House and Senate Republican majority leaders. Mathern said to him, it appears the GOP bill is more “defensive.” But Senate Majority Leader Rich Wardner (R-Dickinson) said he’s interested in taking the best from both bills, and making something that’s workable and understandable.
"You know what my biggest concern is?" Wardner said. "This bill might make some everyday people afraid to come down here and be a part of the process, because they're afraid they will violate some ethics measures."
Wardner said he agrees with Mathern that a two-year study of how to make it work is warranted.