North Idaho Rep. Shannon McMillan says she’s “grateful” for the process in which the House Ethics Committee decided to not take any formal action against her for failing to disclose a conflict of interest before voting against a bill. McMillan, R-Silverton, cast one of just two votes in the House against HB 510, which would remove a special exemption dating back to 1939 that protects elected officials and legislators from having their wages garnished due to state court judgments. She didn’t disclose that she faces numerous court judgments, including at least one in which garnishing of her legislative wages was blocked because of the special exemption. House ethics rules require such disclosures.

A week later, McMillan asked the House for forgiveness, revealed her conflict of interest and requested an ethics committee investigation into her actions. “I thank the committee for responding quickly to my request for this review,” McMillan said in a statement. “I am grateful for this process that has helped to assure that the high ethical standards of this body and my fellow members are upheld.” You can read more here in my Sunday column.