House and Senate Republicans will introduce a number of government reform bills, including one that will bar current legislators from seeking a state job in the executive branch. A number of legislators hold or have held such jobs.
The measures to be introduced are as follows:
– This House bill will require members of the General Assembly to report all gifts with a value in excess of $50. Currently, legislators are required to report gifts that are over $100, while lobbyists are required to report gifts above $50.
– A Senate bill would prohibit any member of the General Assembly from being employed by the state after being elected to the legislature. A lawmaker, who is elected to the legislature, should not be allowed to then seek state employment and be hired by an Executive Branch state agency.
– A House bill would require all statewide and other candidates that may appear on the General Election ballot to disclose (1) that their state and federal income tax returns are filed and that any taxes due have been paid; (2) that any child support payments pursuant to court order are current, and (3) that their property taxes have been paid. Under the bill, filing a false statement could be prosecuted.
– A Senate bill would prohibit a former member of the General Assembly from acting as a lobbyist.
– A House Concurrent Resolution urges the House and Senate to adopt uniform rules to create a more transparent General Assembly.
House Minority Leader Daniel Short (R-Seaford) said, “Most of these bills are not new. In fact, almost every one of these measures has been introduced in a previous General Assembly. That shows how important we believe these measures are and the value they bring to any effort to reform the legislative process. We hope there is the political will to enact these measures this time around. I believe the public wants to be assured that legislators are putting in place certain safeguards to allow for greater transparency and efficiency. We have heard their concerns and are responding with five good government initiatives.”
The bills are part of a larger package of legislation that was discussed last fall by Republicans in the General Assembly, who have lost ground in recent elections.
