New ethics rules proposed for California Senate (RAT Yee's shoulder fired missiles)

LA Times ^ | 5/09/14 | Patrick McGreevy

[Libloather]

**SNIP**

“The current political climate has opened windows to reflect and drive cultural changes that would never have been possible a decade ago,” said Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento) in announcing the proposals. “This is an opportunity to reiterate why we choose to run for office, to serve the public, and to reaffirm our commitment to political reform.”

A trio of Republican Senators called the proposals “window dressing” and said they would introduce legislation to double prison sentences, to up to eight years, for any elected official convicted of bribery or selling votes.

"While we appreciate some of the efforts of our friends across the aisle, we're concerned they are only bringing forward window dressing solutions and Californians will see right through them," said Sen. Mike Morrell (R-Rancho Cucamonga). "We need to hold ourselves to higher standards, such as increasing the criminal penalties for egregious acts like bribery and show that we have zero tolerance for these situations."

[Libloather]

Proposed state Senate resolutions would appoint a Senate ombudsman to hear and investigate complaints of misconduct and provide whistleblower protections to Senate staffers who report wrongdoing.

I need to get this straight - are whistleblowers good or bad?

[jstaff]

I guess it depends on whose whistle gets blown.