Oregon Public Broadcasting

An ethics law two years ago led to a wave of resignations by officials in rural Oregon towns.  Now, that law is one step closer to being changed.  

The Oregon Senate Wednesday approved a measure that would put an end to rules that critics intrusive.  Salem correspondent Chris Lehman has more.

It was a case of unintended consequences.  The 2007 Legislature passed a pair of sweeping ethics bills designed to put more transparency in government.

A little too much transparency for the hundreds of small-town officials who resigned after the law took effect. Many objected to new requirements that they list the names of their relatives on public disclosure statements.

In the coastal town of Nehalem, Mayor Shirley Kalkhoven says she lost four members of the planning commission and two city councilors. 

Shirley Kalkhoven:  “Many city officials were frankly insulted because they thought they were being treated like they were not honorable.”

The revised version of the law would let officials skip the part about listing most of their relatives.  The head of the government-watchdog group Democracy Reform Oregon calls the proposed changes reasonable tweaks.  The bill now moves to the House.

Online:

Oregon Senate Bill 30