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Eye On Boise

First Senate ethics rule change: ‘Take us in the direction of disclosure’

Sen. Mitch Toryanski, R-Boise, debates in favor of an expanded conflict of interest disclosure rule in the Senate on Thursday (Betsy Russell)
Sen. Mitch Toryanski, R-Boise, debates in favor of an expanded conflict of interest disclosure rule in the Senate on Thursday (Betsy Russell)

The Senate is now beginning debate on changes in Senate ethics rules. First up: A change to its disclosure rule for conflicts of interest to clarify that it applies both in committee and in the full Senate.  "The changes are very few, but I think they are significant and positive," said Sen. Mitch Toryanski, R-Boise. "They add clarity and they take us in the right direction of disclosure."

Next up is a rule relating to dismissal of employees; after that is one that makes the entire Senate Ethics Committee process - even the appointment of the committee - secret and confidential until the bipartisan committee votes, by a majority vote, that there is probable cause that an ethics violation has occurred.



Betsy Z. Russell
Betsy Z. Russell joined The Spokesman-Review in 1991. She currently is a reporter in the Boise Bureau covering Idaho state government and politics, and other news from Idaho's state capital.

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