Post by Logan on Jun 3, 2016 3:00:01 GMT -6
COLUMBIA — The 2016 legislative session ended with lawmakers failing to pass an ethics reform package — something Gov. Nikki Haley staked out in her State of the State address as necessary to return public faith.
A measure to create an independent panel to investigate elected officials remained stuck as the clock struck the steadfast 5 p.m. close of business hour, leaving the bill’s author, Rep. Tommy Pope, R-York, visibly frustrated as he chided senators for failing to act on what was called a brokered compromise.
“I don’t know where we can go, folks,” Pope told the House in the final moments of the afternoon. “We have given and given and given. But maybe they really want it to die.”
Senators preferred to say they were standing by their version of the bill that still give House and Senate ethics committees more control over when investigations can go public.
Read more: www.postandcourier.com/20160602/160609825/statehouse-session-ends-without-ethics-reform
A measure to create an independent panel to investigate elected officials remained stuck as the clock struck the steadfast 5 p.m. close of business hour, leaving the bill’s author, Rep. Tommy Pope, R-York, visibly frustrated as he chided senators for failing to act on what was called a brokered compromise.
“I don’t know where we can go, folks,” Pope told the House in the final moments of the afternoon. “We have given and given and given. But maybe they really want it to die.”
Senators preferred to say they were standing by their version of the bill that still give House and Senate ethics committees more control over when investigations can go public.
Read more: www.postandcourier.com/20160602/160609825/statehouse-session-ends-without-ethics-reform