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Proposals would save money, restore trust in government

(source BIPPS)

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House Speaker Jody Richards, D-Bowling Green, has pre-filed several bills dealing with ethics in state government that we hope will win the support of policymakers from both parties and be enacted during the 2004 session of Kentucky’s General Assembly.

Richards’ proposals represent a sound approach toward activities of state employees that, while presently legal, are examples of ineffective government policy. One is the practice of “burrowing,” in which political appointees of a governor scramble near the end of an administration to land jobs within the Merit System. This keeps them from being fired after a new governor takes office. Richards wants to make these appointees ineligible for jobs protected by the Merit System for one year after leaving their previous position.

Another of the speaker’s bills recommends changing a law that allows state workers who retire to continue collecting retirement benefits while taking another government job at full pay after only one month. This practice, known as “double dipping” because taxpayers are issuing two checks to the same state worker, is an unintended consequence of legislation in recent years allowing government employees to retire at younger ages. Richards’ bill would all but end this practice by preventing government workers who retire from taking a new state job for two years.

Other proposals by the speaker would reduce the number of administrative aids working for the state’s top officials from 175 to 50, ban state agencies from awarding contracts to one contractor without soliciting bids - except in specific emergency situations - and prohibit governors, lieutenant governors and cabinet secretaries from hiring relatives.

Such steps will also save Kentucky taxpayers money, which is always commendable. More importantly, Richards’ proposals take a step toward restoring Kentuckians’ faith in - and control over - their government.

Source: (Bowling Green) Daily News : http://www.bgdailynews.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?200309/17+legislature20030917_editorials.html+20030917

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