Trillhaase: Ethics Lessons? So What?
Marty Trillhaase of the Lewiston Tribune comments today that the Idaho Legislature is making some progress on the ethicalfront by requiring freshman legislators to take ethics classes. But he's pessmistic that much will change because the same leaders who covered for past mischief are still in place and remain committed to covering for misbehaving colleagues:
What good are ethics lessons taught in a classroom when they get punctured in the cloakroom? No wonder the Center for Public Integrity gives Idaho the 41st worst score in the country in what it calls a corruption risk report card. That compares to Washington (third), Oregon (14th), Montana (31st), Utah (35th), Nevada (42nd) and Wyoming (48th). In spite of that, legislative leaders - notably Denney - have dragged their feet at holding themselves more accountable to you. What lesson is being taught here? Is it to behave ethically - or simply to avoid getting caught? More here.
Question: Will the 2013 Legislature be more ethical than the 2011-12 Legislatures?
