Alabama House Judiciary Committee to vote on governor's ethics law overhaul

MONTGOMERY - The House Judiciary Committee will vote this morning on Gov. Bob Riley's proposed ethics law overhaul, the committee chairman said.

The committee on Wednesday delayed a vote on the bill by Rep. Mac Gipson, R-Prattville, because Riley's office brought a substitute bill to the committee that morning. It's a committee policy not to vote on the same day they receive a substitute, Chairman Marcel Black, D-Tuscumbia, said.

Riley policy director Bryan Taylor told committee members that the legislation would help repair Alabama's reputation for public corruption.

"The governor's bill is the gold standard. It's everything we could possibly want," Alabama Ethics Commissioner Director Jim Sumner told the committee.

The governor's proposal would:

Require lobbyists who lobby the executive branch to register with the Ethics Commission just as legislative lobbyists do.

Require lobbyists to report all spending on public officials.

Give subpoena power to the Ethics Commission.

Cap at $50 what a lobbyist can spend on a public official's meal, with a yearly total cap of $250 from any one source.

Forbid public officials from accepting most gifts, with exceptions for small seasonal gifts and tickets to one-day sporting events.

Require the Ethics Commission to keep searchable records on its Web site.

The committee also is expected to vote on a separate ethics bill by Rep. Paul DeMarco, R-Homewood. DeMarco said his bill would accomplish many of the same things as the governor's proposal.

"We've all got the same intent to pass a strong ethics law," DeMarco said.

Black said he expected the committee would vote on both bills this morning.

"It will give people a chance to look at it and digest what both bills do," Black said.

The Judiciary Committee earlier this session approved a bill by Rep. Cam Ward, R-Alabaster, that would give subpoena power to the Ethics Commission. The House Rules Committee has not scheduled a vote on Ward's bill.

The committee meets at 9 a.m.