Conflict of Interest

Different states have different laws. Naturally, I am more aware of Wisconsin law than any other state.

Indiana is considering changing a law that is quite different from Wisconsin.

Police, firefighters and other local government workers could no longer be elected to simultaneously serve on their own governing bodies under a bill that passed the Indiana Senate on Monday.

The commission had called for the end of government employees in essence being their own bosses, calling the practice an obvious conflict of interest.

A review by The Indianapolis Star in December found numerous examples across the state of such conflicts, including one Hammond streets superintendent who, as a Hammond City Council member, proposed and voted for a raise for the streets post.

Even if there wasn’t a legal conflict of interest the ethical conflict of interest should be avoided.

Let’s hope Indiana, and any other state that may still allow this practice, will change those laws.

This entry was posted on Friday, February 20th, 2009 at 5:58 am and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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