Ethics measure could unite Democrats, Republicans
LITTLE ROCK — Democrats and Republicans have both tried to run against each other in Arkansas on an ethics and good government platform, but a proposal aimed at tightening up the state’s campaign finance laws could give them a chance to find common ground.
Backers of the of an initiated act proposed that would ban corporate contributions to candidates, lengthen the cooling off period before lawmakers could become lobbyists and prohibit lobbyist gifts to legislators hope to gather enough signatures to make it onto the November ballot. The proposal is being promoted by a group formed called Regnat Populus, named after the Arkansas state motto.
If supporters clear that first hurdle, they may find that their proposal attracts an odd bipartisan mix of support.
For evidence, look no further than the heads of the state Democratic and Republican parties.
Democratic Chairman Will Bond and Republican Chairman Doyle Webb agree on little, but both have supported tighter ethics regulations for state lawmakers. Although neither party has supported the proposed initiated act, both men have supported eliminating or restricting the gifts legislators may receive from lobbyists.
Legislators can currently receive gifts, food or other items valued up to $ 100 from a lobbyist.
As a state representative in 2007, Bond proposed referring to voters a constitutional amendment that would have banned legislators from receiving any gifts — including food, lodging or entertainment. The proposal was part of a measure that would have also eased term limits to allow legislators to serve for up to six two- year terms in the House and three four- year terms in the Senate.
State lawmakers are currently limited to three, two- year terms in the House and two, four- year terms in the Senate.
The proposal never made it past a joint House and Senate committee, but Bond says he still thinks a gift ban is a good idea. The chairman, however, stopped short of saying that means he personally supports the Regnat Populus, a Latin phrase for The People Rule, measure.
“Personally I think the cup of coffee rule should be put into effect and is the correct ethics position,” Bond said. “Part of the reason is I think there’s just an incredible cynicism out there with regards to government and I think that type of provision would go a long way in maybe restoring confidence to some of the public.” Likewise, Webb has a personal history on ethics reform. While in the state Senate, Webb in 1999 proposed banning most gifts that legislators receive. While not prohibiting all gifts, Webb’s legislation said lobbyists could spend no more than $ 10 a month or $ 120 a year on a lawmaker.
Two years later, Webb proposed referring to voters a constitutional amendment that would have paired a similar gift restriction with a pay increase for legislators.
Webb said the party may consider whether to support the Regnat Populus measure if supporters gather enough signatures. He suggested it could be incorporated into other ethics reforms proposed by legislators if it doesn’t make it onto the November ballot.
“I hope that our Legislature will at some point, if this does not make it, come back and propose stronger ethics reform and I would like to see it tied to an increase in compensation for all elected officials,” Webb said.
Consensus between Democrats and Republicans on gifts to lawmakers is one thing, but winning support for the entire initiated act is another. The Regnat Populus also would extend the “cooling off” period before former legislators can become lobbyists from one year to two. It would also ban corporate and union contributions to individual campaigns in Arkansas, making the state’s campaign finance law in line with restrictions on federal candidates.
Winning support for those other ideas will be difficult, and supporters face a fast approaching deadline. They have until July 6 to gather the 62,507 signatures needed to appear on the November ballot.
Paul Spencer, the Little Rock Catho- lic High School for Boys government teacher who chairs the group, said they’re reaching out to a variety of organizations to try and get on the ballot. That includes members of the Occupy Little Rock movement who are helping gather signatures, and Spencer says he’s also approached tea party supporters.
The coalition for the proposal could also include the state’s largest labor union. The Arkansas AFL- CIO’S executive board is considering backing the measure and offering its members help in gathering signatures, President Alan Hughes said.
With a little over $ 1,100 in the bank, the group is still relying on volunteers to get the measure on the ballot.
“We’re not an uptown, high class political slick organization. The people who signed on for this are really hungry for change,” Spencer said.
Spencer, however, says he’s not going to shun any establishment support if it comes their way, adding: “If money would fall into our laps from the sky, we would take it in a second.” Andrew Demillo has covered Arkansas government and politics for The Associated Press since 2005. He can be reached at www. twitter. com/ ademillo