Fine words, indeed

Lawmakers have work to do to restore integrity

The architecture of public buildings, once upon a time, represented more than just utility. Arkansas’ State Capitol, for instance, is far more than a structure to shield lawmakers, the governor and state employees from the rain and snow or to hold up light fixtures over their heads.

A visit to the Capitol ought to be on every Arkansan’s bucket list. Built of Arkansas limestone between 1899 and 1915, the building inspires pride in our democratic processes, our representation by neighbors we’ve chosen, and the building makes all that seem anchored in bedrock. Standing on those white stone steps inside, it’s easy to feel connected to all that is good about the way we govern ourselves. It instills a notion that the people of Arkansas are bigger than any problems our government must deal with.

In short, the Capitol calls us citizens to our civic best.

It does the same with the men and women sent there to represent Arkansans, but some of them have trouble listening. That’s why state Sen. Jim Hendren of Sulphur Springs, after his colleagues selected him as the next president pro tempore of the Senate, declared lawmakers “have some work to do” to “ensure the integrity of the institution is protected, that the people understand the expectations that come with serving as a state senator, and that we absolutely represent our people and this institution well.”

El Dorado Rep. Matthew Shepherd, who was elected speaker of the House, noted the Legislature has been “stained” by corruption scandals.

They refer to a Springdale House member who pleaded guilty in a kickback scheme involving the distributions of taxpayer dollars and a former state senator, also from Springdale, who faces charges in the same alleged scheme. A few years back, a Jonesboro senator resigned and went to federal prison for spending $150,000 in campaign funds on personal expenses. A Fort Smith senator resigned just in February after he pleaded guilty to felony charges of wire fraud, money laundering and bank fraud for pocketing state money he obtained for a Fort Smith sports complex and for pledging a forklift he didn’t own as a collateral on a bank loan.

“It’s important for us to set a high standard of conduct to try and rebuild the public trust and confidence in the institution,” Shepherd said after he was selected to serve as speaker. “This is a great institution, and there’s so many great people and it’s unfortunate that a few can tarnish the reputation of so many.”

Making sure it’s just a few is vital. With recent developments, the public has reason to be skeptical.

We applaud Hendren and Shepherd and their effort to set the tone for the next couple of years. Lawmakers too often appear to put loyalty to party, to each other or to themselves above loyalty to the people of Arkansas.

Now, back to that Capitol building. Ten years before it was completed, four state senators and two representatives were indicted on charges they accepted bribes in connection with the building’s construction. The Encyclopedia of Arkansas says only one senator was ultimately convicted, but it soured the public’s views about the project.

Resistance to public corruption isn’t a one- time fix. It’s demands constant vigilance, as well as men and women devoted to integrity for themselves, their colleagues and the institutions of the people. Voters must strive to elect those kinds of people to represent them. And lawmakers ought to hold each other accountable. We’ve seen precious little of that, with many choosing collegiality over condemnation when one of their own steps across the line of propriety or even criminality.

Hendren and Shepherd are to be commended for taking note of that “stain” that is an ever-present threat to the integrity of Arkansas’ institutions of government and encouraging their fellow lawmakers toward honest representation.

The words are appreciated, but as with so much involving representative government, it’s the actions that count.