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September 20, 2006

Carcieri unveils new ethics plan

PROVIDENCE -- Governor Carcieri unveiled his plan to reform the state's ethics code during an afternoon press conference at the State House today.

The governor said he plans to deliver his four-point proposal directly to the state Ethics Commission, bypassing the General Assembly, which passed an ethics bill in July that Carcieri chose not to sign. Carcieri's opponent in the race for governor, Lt. Gov. Charles Fogarty, was a strong supporter of the first bill.

Carcieri's plan has four key points:

-- Legislators would have to disclose specific sources of income. For example, if they work as attorneys or insurance brokers, the legislators would have to list the names of their clients.

-- Legislators would have to disclose any interest or connection to programs or entities that receive state funding.

-- The definition of "conflict of interest" in the code of ethics would be expanded beyond "direct financial benefit."

-- Legislators would be barred from voting on any measure that would affect business or industry from which the elected official or family member derives income.

Noticeably absent for Carcieri's press conference today was the Ethics Commission Chairman James Lynch Sr., who was supposed to be in attendance, according to the press release distributed at today's event.

"Why he didn't come, you'll have to ask him," Carcieri said.

-- projo.com staff writer Steve Peoples with reports from Journal staff writer Elizabeth Gudrais

Posted by Steve Peoples  at 3:10 PM | Permalink

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