The tendency of local government ethics codes to limit conflicts to
financial interests is one of my pet peeves. A
current matter in Tacoma shows the downside of this limited definition
of interests that can conflict.<br>
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There are many obstacles to local governments working together or
merging in order to provide services at lower costs to taxpayers, but
the one that is hardest to put a finger on is the self-interest of
officials. Or at least that's how I read a new report from Wisconsin's <a href="http://www.localgovinstitute.org/&quot; target="”_blank”">Local Government Institute</a>

The perceived independence of an ethics commission is extremely
important. This perceived independence has become an issue in Frankfort
(KY), according to <a href="http://www.state-journal.com/news/article/4794079&quot; target="”_blank”">an article in
Tuesday's <i>State-Journal</i></a>.<br>
<br>

It's been four days since <a href="http://www.sunshineweek.org/&quot; target="”_blank”">Sunshine
Week</a> ended, but it's not too late to point out <a href="http://sunshinereview.org/index.php/Main_Page&quot; target="”_blank”">Sunshine Review</a>'s

Yesterday, my attention was drawn to a new organization called
Foundation for Ethics in Public Service, Inc., which operates as the
website <a href="http://www.reportpubliccorruption.org&quot; target="”_blank”">www.reportpubliccorruption.org</a&gt;.
On February 11, its executive director, Leslie W. Merritt, Jr., a

I've been meaning for a long time to take a long second look at the <a href="http://www.cityethics.org/content/full-text-model-ethics-code&quot; target="”_blank”">City
Ethics Model Code</a> provision on the <a href="http://www.cityethics.org/content/full-text-model-ethics-code#0.1_TOC42…; target="”_blank”">revolving

<b>Update:</b> June 7, 2010 (see below)<br>
<br>
There is some very good news out of Rhode Island, even if it is over a
month old. The house majority leader, <a href="http://www.projo.com/news/content/House_Speaker_elected__02-12-10_5HHE4…; target="”_blank”">now

When is a gift a campaign contribution? This issue has been raised in
the trial of a Manhattan surrogate court judge, according to <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/20/nyregion/20anderson.htm&quot; target="”_blank”">an
article in yesterday's New York <i>Times</i></a>.<br>
<br>

Here are two interesting situations where it is not clear what an
ethics commission's role and authority are. One in Baltimore, the other in Philadelphia.<br>
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<b>Update:</b> March 29, 2010 (see below)<br>
<br>
It is a common problem in government ethics to confuse law and ethics.
It is a more unusual problem to confuse law and facts. But this appears
to be a problem in La Crosse (WI; pop. 51,000), according to <a href="http://www.lacrossetribune.com/news/article_cca5c1ba-3181-11df-a411-001…; target="”_blank”">an