Reform Group Calls for Vt. Ethics Commission

The government reform group Campaign for Vermont is calling for the creation of a state ethics commission.

The campaign is conducting a web-based petition drive looking for people to sign on to a letter to lawmakers, urging them to create an ethics panel when they return in January.

A similar call was voiced recently by Secretary of State Jim Condos.

A national group, the Center for Public Integrity, has given Vermont failing grades for legislative accountability and ethics enforcement capabilities.

Campaign for Vermont's executive director, Cyrus Patten, says Vermont's shortcomings in the ethics field include the lack of a revolving door law barring lawmakers from taking a job with a private interest after voting on an issue in a way that benefited it.