Beshear signs order on executive branch ethics

FRANKFORT — Though the state legislature this year did not approve changes in ethics law pushed by Gov. Steve Beshear, Beshear signed an executive order Tuesday to initiate some of them.

“Neither I nor the people of Kentucky can wait another year to change the way state government does business,” the Democratic governor said at a Capitol news conference.

“Therefore, I am exercising my power as governor to strengthen executive branch ethics in state government.”

Beshear has scheduled news conferences Wednesday in Bowling Green and Henderson to discuss his order.

Beshear’s order:

• Changes the process for appointing members to the Executive Branch Ethics Commission. Now, the governor appoints all five members. Under Beshear’s order, the first vacancy will be filled by the governor, the second by the governor from a list of three nominees submitted by the attorney general and the third by the governor from a list of three nominees submitted by the auditor. After that, the process repeats itself.

• Attaches the commission to the Finance and Administration Cabinet instead of the governor’s office.

• Forbids employees from negotiating for a future job with a person or company with which he or she is directly involved as part of their official duties.

• Requires legal defense funds to register with the commission and donations to them from those who do business with the state will not be allowed. Quarterly reports will have to be filed with the commission.

• Subjects members of about 74 state boards to ethical guidelines governing gifts and conflicts of interest.

• Solidifies Beshear’s directive from earlier this year that all major management personnel have to undergo mandatory ethics training and creates a voluntary training program for all executive branch lobbyists.

SEE WEDNESDAY’S HERALD-LEADER FOR MORE INFORMATION.

- Jack Brammer

Comments

[HG]

Hypocritical grandstanding!

[Getitright]

WOW, now this is real reform. The worst governor in modern history has punted this process to the Atty General and Auditor, now there's a level playing field...and don't mention that he delivered the remainder of this deal to the most inept, watch our bond rating drop, political payback cabinet member Miller. OH BOY!!

Let the backtracking begin...........

[honestabe]

whata complete moron..he has done everyone of these no-no's this year....by himself.....Never thought i would say this but Patton is better than this joker!!

[Bill Adkins]

Beshear makes progress where the Republicans in the Senate fear to tread. Damon Thayer blocked ethics reform in the Senate - the legislation was getting too close to his trough. Beshear acts, the Senate is dead in the water. Perhaps after this next election the legislature will have members who will act for Kentucky and not in their own special interests.

[Frankfort Observer]

Yes, and please tell that to that great House majority as well.

[David Adams]

With all the real problems we have in this state, it looks like Beshear wants us to eat executive branch ethics cake.

[To the moron]

Adkins, I ran into your ole buddy, Damon Thayer the other day. He told me what a total LOSER you are. But I already knew that from all your moronic, anti-Republican rantings.

[sunshine]

Getting called a loser by Damon Thayer is like getting assaulted by a butterfly. That guy is seriously and utterly sleazy in a way that is not whatsoever intimidating. And he's your buddy? That one found its way back home. What's with the Adkins bashing on this blog? No wonder he isn't really choosing to display positive human characterisitcs. He's in good company.

[The Equalizer]

Displaying "positive human characterisitcs" is one's choice. Adkins continually chooses not to do so and has defined himself by his tiresome Republican-bashing. His website is full of leftist propaganda. He is no victim, and he cannot blame anyone else for the venom he spews out. If he cleans up his act and starts showing some humility and objectivity, he will earn my respect. Until then, he will not be allowed to go unchallenged with the garbage he produces.

[Losing Faith]

He calls this true ethics reform?? How ethical is it to tell us you are making a change to strengthen the ethics branch in our government, but you give the power to all of your buddies? Like that is going to help ensure ethics in our state government? How stupid does he think we are?

[Bill Adkins]

They don't like me because the truth hurts. For instance, in my first post I said, "Damon Thayer blocked ethics reform in the Senate - the legislation was getting too close to his trough." See? The pigs squeal when they're poked.
From Today's Herald:
"Beshear, who ran last year for governor on a platform of ethics reform, said in a statement, "As Sen. Williams well knows, I supported placing restrictions on contractors donating to the campaigns of constitutional officers as long as those restrictions applied also to the legislative branch. But Sen. Williams obviously did not want to go there.

"It is a shame Sen. Williams seems fixated on disagreeing with anything I do as governor, regardless of what the issue is.""

And there you have it - the truth that hurts.

[Elizabeth]

This is a step in the right direction, but a very minor step.

Real reform will come when legislators can't vote on measures where they have significant business or investment interests or head committees with oversight in those areas.

And when members of the Executive can't award contracts to friends and donors.

Dry up the money.

[Carl]

Amusing. A governor who can't get anything passed due to his own disengagement and, more importantly, lack of real leadership. Patton had it. He promised casino gambling and then essentially stayed out of it and couldn't get House Dems to go along. He promised changes on use of state plane and there was nothing (including no executive orders about that). He can't even get House Democrats and their leadership to agree with him on this stuff much less Senate Republicans. Beshear is a joke-face it-he got elected because he wasn't Fletcher not because he is Beshear!

[Bleu]

The Executive order must be passed by the general assembly or it dies and cannot be renewed. Lets contrast this to the KBI also created by multiple executive orders. When the General Assembly refused to ratify Greg Stumbo executive order creating his personal police force; he simply illegally renewed the order multiple times. There is a lawsuit requesting a judicial ruling on the constitutionality of the KBI in the Russell County courts. The problem is whether special Judge Cletus Maricle has the political "kahuna's" to follow the law and rule that the KBI is unconstitutional. He was suppose to rule on it earlier this month but postponed.

[Thayer stole Adkins' girlfriend!!!]

The way Adkins rails about Thayer, I'm beginning to believe that Thayer must have taken a girlfriend from Adkins once upon a time and Adkins has never gotten over it.

Of course, who could blame her? I don't know what either of them looks like, but Thayer is a distinguished and intelligent public servant and Adkins is a ranting out-of-touch leftist. Women do like intelligence more than looks, sometimes!

[He's jealous]

Adkins tried to run for Thayer's seat and lost. It has been sour grapes and jealousy ever since!

[HG]

Like I said, Beshear's actions are hypocritical grandstanding. It has the appearance of reform, with no substance. The Senate was correct to avoid putting a stamp of approval on this farce.

[amused]

Okay, the Adkins-Thayer comments are getting weird and creepy. I'm beginning to think its just a chick who has issues herself and is gloating over her "boyfriends", if you want to refer to them as such. Sorry, but if you put it out there don't you know people will catch on? Is that what you want? I want to stay on topic!

[Sunshine]

Obviously Beshear's actions toward ethics reform are long overdue and I'm wondering exactly how one would defend not doing anything at all-whether or not you feel miffed that Beshear is the governor currently attempting to implement ethics reform should not be the issue-it should be supported because its a step in a positive, less corrupt direction.Period.

[Bill Adkins]

"Women do like intelligence more than looks, sometimes!"

Wow, you're batting zip, then. I'm slightly amused, but more weirded out by the twist put into the thread since last I visited. I think you're right - it's just a chick who has issues herself. Note that individual could never address the topic and compensated with hostility.

[This is a charade]

Sunshine, you are correct that we need ethics reform, but you are naive to think that Beshear's recent action is anything more than a charade. That is the reason for the opposition. He is just trying to score points without really doing anything meaningful. He is insulting us with the appearance of reform with little or no actual reform. It is still business as usual with good ole boys like Beshear still rewarding their friends and punishing their enemies, and the real losers are the citizens of our state.

[Sunshine]

charade, your point is well taken. But then again, aren't we always the losers, regardless of the party that happens to be in power? It is indeed naive to actually believe otherwise. I am probably naive in many ways, but I'm well aware that trusting most people, particularly leaders, equates more often than not with being manipulated if you are unwilling to whore out in some fashion. I get it. Be that as it may, we have to give leaders enough support to let reform that is in our best interest take place, regardless of whether or not leaders themselves really believe in and value what it stands for. The ball has to start rolling somewhere, and it is our responsibility to stay on it and demand that it be carried through-the way it should be. That's our job.

[It truly is a charade]

I agree, Sunshine. I support real, meaningful reform, so let's not give Beshear more credit than he deserves for the weak reforms he ordered. The H-L piously gave Beshear credit for giving up some of his own power, but the true effect upon his administration is nil. I still say this was a meaningless gesture with little true effect at reform. It was simply to score political points.

It is too bad that our local newspaper consistently gives Beshear the benefit of a serious doubt, but his successor could do nothing right in their eyes. They saw an ulterior motive in every action of Fletcher, but somehow they believe that Beshear is always acting selflessly when he is obviously acting politically. The double standard of the H-L is truly nauseating.

[It truly is a charade]

I meant "his PREDECESSOR could do nothing right.."

[sunshine]

Double standards always are, most definitely.
Unfortunately you are probably right. Nevertheless, I will continue to hold out for the day someone can prove it isn't impossible to be sincere and honest in practice. LOL Good thing I've given up on caring whether or not anyone thinks I look like a fool. :)