‘The Light Switch,' Episode 7: A smatter of ethics
Here's something you don't hear much: 'Boy, Louisiana is just TOO ethical.'
Political corruption has been our brand for a Long time – pun intended. There are few corners of the state that haven't been touched by greed, envy and every other sticky finger of those in power.
This sordid history serves as the backdrop for what would be a very significant rewriting of Louisiana's ethics laws, with Gov. Jeff Landry behind the pen.
In this episode of 'The Light Switch,' senior reporter Julie O'Donoghue walks us through just a few of the changes being proposed. They include increasing the limits on gifts for elected officials and government employees, ranging from the governor down to your local building inspector.
Read Julie's coverage of the ethics proposals lawmakers are considering:
Confidential complaints against elected officials, gov't workers might be eliminated
Lawmakers might lift limits on gifts to officials, gov't employees
As charges linger over Landry, Louisiana House votes to overhaul ethics investigations
Also weighing in on the ethics topic is Steven Procopio, president of the Public Affairs Research Council. The 75-year-old good government group doesn't take stands on legislation, but its leader says he's concerned about the possible changes in the works.
For our News from the States segment, we head to Indiana where there are changes in store for the naturalization ceremonies where new U.S. citizens take their citizenship oaths. Reporter Leslie Bonilla Muñiz with the Indiana Capital Chronicle explains how some traditions are being eliminated – and why.
Read Leslie's coverage of the naturalization changes.
Listen to Episode 7 of 'The Light Switch' on and
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Associated Press
a day ago
- Associated Press
As Louisiana's governor faces ethics charges, his lawyer raises bar for future ethics investigations
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Louisiana is poised to adopt new measures that watchdogs warn raise barriers to holding public officials accountable via the state's ethics board. The legislation was drafted by the personal attorney of Republican Gov. Jeff Landry, who faces charges brought by the board for violating state ethics laws. Proponents say the measures give those accused of ethics violations more opportunities to respond to allegations, increases transparency and limits abuses of a process they claim is often unjust. But watchdog groups — and the Board of Ethics — warn the changes will undermine the board's ability to hold public officials accountable. While the changes would not apply to Landry's current charges, the legislation further bolsters the governor's power over a state board largely made up of his own appointees. A revised version of the bill, passed by the Senate earlier this week, awaits approval in the House. Republican Rep. Gerald 'Beau' Beaullieu, who sponsored the bill, said it was brought forth after officials complained that the board's investigation process was 'more like being investigated by the Gestapo.' Landry's office declined to comment. Another bill would share the names of complainants with officials they are accusing of wrongdoing, as well as limit the board's ability to launch investigations. Governor's lawyer behind the legislation Landry's private attorney, Stephen Gelé, drafted the legislation, which the governor supports. Gelé is defending Landry against ethics charges brought in 2023 for undisclosed free plane rides to Hawaii when he served as the state's attorney general. Gelé said negotiations are progressing to 'amicably resolve the charges.' Last year, Gelé warned lawmakers that the ethics board's investigatory powers are 'dangerous, unwarranted, and threaten well-established fundamental constitutional rights' and he has sought to rein them in with new legislation. The bill's supporters say it gives the board more discretion about whether to pursue investigations and bring charges, cuts down on waste of taxpayer dollars and strengthens due process rights for the accused. Yet these changes are raising red flags. In a letter to lawmakers, the Board of Ethics warned that the bill's requirement to share copies of all subpoenas with officials under investigation allows them to 'influence a witness's documents or responses.' Critics say the bill undercuts the board's authority by granting local courts the power to quash investigations, gives officials opportunities to run out the clock on the board's one-year timeline to bring charges and prevents the board from investigating violations that were disclosed by public officials seeking the board's advisory opinion. The bill also requires a two-thirds board vote to approve an investigation into a sworn complaint and another two-thirds vote on whether to file charges. Current policy requires only majority votes. Barry Erwin, president of the Council for a Better Louisiana, a nonpartisan government accountability group, said the bill's two-thirds vote requirements constitute a 'high bar to overcome' for a board of political appointees. 'I just think in real life, in very political situations, it's hard for some of these board members to act with the independence in the system we had before,' Erwin said. A bill that will reduce complaints The other bill under consideration — which Gelé said he did not craft and Landry has not publicly supported — would require anyone bringing an ethics complaint to disclose their name and file the complaint in person at the ethics board offices in Baton Rouge. The bill passed in the House with only seven lawmakers opposed and is pending final passage in the Senate. In a legislative committee hearing, David Bordelon, general counsel for the ethics board, warned that the bill would enable officials 'to intimidate a witness or potentially alter information that's requested.' Bordelon said the measure would 'drastically reduce the number of complaints.' The legislation's sponsor, Republican Rep. Kellee Hennessey Dickerson, said her bill is part of a fight for 'truth' and 'justice.' 'For those of us who have been through it, it helps develop peace of mind, knowing who your accuser is, especially when you are spending thousands upon thousands of dollars to try and clear your good name,' said Dickerson, who was fined $1,500 for an ethics violation in 2023. She argued people frequently file complaints to harass their political opponents. Bordelon countered that the board dispassionately evaluates complaints and provides the accused with the opportunity to defend themselves if charges are brought. The bill also prevents the ethics board from launching investigations based on non-governmental sources such as media reports. Governor dominates state ethics board Following legislation passed last year, the governor directly appoints nine of the board's 15 members, with the Legislature appointing the rest. Officials with the legislative and executive branches now have more control over those who may be tasked with investigating them, watchdogs note. 'It's gone from a process that was as much arm's length away from politics as we could make it, and we had it that way for many years, to a process now that is very much more political than we've ever seen it,' Erwin said. 'It's going to be very difficult for the board to act in a way that guarantees that kind of oversight we want to have.' ___ Brook is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Carson demands answers on potential migrant detention at Indiana's Camp Atterbury
U.S. Rep. André Carson speaks at a rally on Oct. 26, 2024, in Indianapolis. (Whitney Downard/Indiana Capital Chronicle) A Wednesday letter from Democrat U.S. Rep. André Carson to the federal Department of Homeland Security seeks answers about the possible use of Camp Atterbury in Indiana as an immigration detention facility. The letter follows recent Indiana Capital Chronicle reporting that federal officials may be eyeing the southern Indiana base as a temporary site for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainees. The federally owned facility is licensed to and operated by the Indiana National Guard. A DHS spokesperson last week declined to confirm any plans but acknowledged the agency is exploring 'flexible options' to respond to capacity issues in its nationwide detention network. In his letter to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, Carson said the prospect raises 'serious questions' and flagged concerns about legal rights, humane treatment and national security. Feds could eye Indiana's Camp Atterbury as potential site for ICE detainees amid capacity strain 'Camp Atterbury has historically served as a training base for the Indiana National Guard and has been a vital part of our state's military infrastructure,' wrote Carson, who represents portions of Marion County. 'The prospect of repurposing it for migrant detention raises significant issues that warrant thorough examination, including the negative impact this will have on our national security and military readiness.' Carson's letter comes as ICE detention has surged in recent months, approaching 50,000 people nationwide — far above the 41,500 beds funded by Congress — according to the latest federal numbers. That strain has reportedly prompted DHS to review underused military and federal facilities across the country, including Camp Atterbury, but no official decisions have been announced. Carson, a senior member of the House Intelligence Committee, said he's especially troubled by reports of due process violations at other ICE detention sites. 'As a senior Member of the House Intel Committee, I am always thinking about keeping our state and our country safe,' Carson said in a statement. 'Not only does the prospect of using Camp Atterbury raise concerns that our military readiness will be reduced, it also is deeply concerning given numerous reports that detainees across the United States have been denied legal due process.' Camp Atterbury has previously been used to house Afghan evacuees and Ukrainian refugees, but not immigration detainees held under enforcement authority. Carson asked DHS to respond to seven specific questions about the potential use of Camp Atterbury by June 13, including what laws and funding would govern its use of the national guard site, and how military operations might be affected. DHS had not responded publicly to the letter as of Wednesday evening. Carson Letter – June 4 SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
As charges linger over Landry, Louisiana Legislature passes dramatic changes to ethics law
The Louisiana Legislature has approved an overhaul of the state ethics laws that will make it harder to bring ethics charges against public servants. (Photo credit: Wes Muller/Louisiana Illuminator) Louisiana lawmakers overwhelmingly approved a set of dramatic changes to state ethics laws Wednesday that will make it much more difficult to charge elected officials and public employees with misconduct. House Bill 674 alters the process the state ethics board used to bring charges against Gov. Jeff Landry two years ago that are still pending. Landry's charges won't be affected by the legislation, but he pushed for the bill and is expected to let it pass into law. The governor's personal attorney, Stephen Gelé, helped craft the language contained in it. Beyond making it harder to bring ethics charges, the legislation also loosens limits on elected officials' and state employees' state travel, weakens restrictions on government contracts with public servants and their families, and reduces requirements for elected officials and political candidates' disclosure of financial interests. The bill's sponsor, Rep. Beau Beaullieu, R-New Iberia, said it is a reaction to the ethics board's overzealous enforcement that has frustrated officials in both parties. The anger toward the board was reflected in lawmakers' overwhelming support of the bill. The Louisiana Senate and House voted 34-2 and 92-1, respectively, for the ethics overhaul this week. Yet ethics board members expressed concerns about the bill during its May meeting. Its top staff member, Ethics Administrator David Bordelon, described it as 'skewing' the ethics investigation process in favor of the person accused of wrongdoing. The state's preeminent government watchdog group, the Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana (PAR), also vociferously opposed the legislation. 'This is designed to make sure we don't have ethics investigations,' PAR President Steven Procopio told lawmakers at a hearing last week. This is a developing story. Please check back for more details.
