Ethics laws govern elected and other governmental officials to ensure their actions are for public and not private gain. During the 2007 legislative session, Democracy Reform Oregon supported the passage of a three-bill package that has begun to restore public trust in government. With the passage of these bills, we have sent a clear signal to restore governmental accountability and transparency.

Read our press release to learn more about this three-bill package.

Read more about the 2007 ethics reform bills, and find out how legislators voted (View the printer-friendly PDF)

What ethics reforms have we won?

• Stable and diversified funding for the state’s ethics commission.
• Strict limits on gifts including entertainment and meals to public officials from lobbyists and others with a legislative interest.
• Electronic quarterly online reporting of lobbying dollars with online access to the public.
• Accuracy audits of ethics reports.
• A one-year waiting period before legislators can return to the capitol as lobbyists.
• An increase in potential fines for ethics violations from $1,000 to $5,000.

What were Democracy Reform Oregon’s legislative priorities in 2007?

Legislative Priority: Independent and adequate funding of the Government Standards and Practices Commission (GSPC)
Status: PASSED

The GSPC’s budget bill restored an investigator position and added a trainer. Its overall budget increased by over 60 percent, undoing a long history of inadequate funding. SB 10 diversified the agency’s funding source, providing budget independence from legislators subject to the agency’s oversight. The new funding scheme spreads the financial support across the large number of political jurisdictions that refer complaints to the ethics commission. This provides enough money but the fiscal impact on any one entity is eased because of the many governmental bodies and agencies over which the ethics agency budget is distributed. Administering this funding mechanism is simplified by piggybacking on existing procedures.

Legislative Priority: Restore Ethics Commission name
Status: PASSED

Democracy Reform Oregon testified in support of legislation that was folded into HB 2595 that renamed the Government Standards and Practices Commission the Oregon Ethics Commission, restoring the name voters adopted in the 1974 ballot measure establishing our state’s watchdog agency.

Legislative Priority: Quarterly online reporting of lobbying spending
Status: PASSED

Timely and accessible reports on lobbying spending has been a long time Democracy Reform Oregon priority. SB 10 requires quarterly electronic reporting with online access of lobbying reports and gift reports made by public officials. HB2595 ensures that ethics reports will be audited.

Legislative Priority: Comprehensive limits on gifts, entertainment, food and beverages, and junkets
Status: PASSED

Senate Bill 10 set a $50 aggregate annual limit on gifts to lawmakers and other public officials from any one lobbyist and group with an interest in legislation.

Legislative Priority: Tighten rules on use of campaign funds
Status: More action needed

SB 10 began the process of tightening rules on use of campaign funds by not allowing their use for payment of ethics fines and related legal fees.

During the next legislative session, additional restrictions on use of campaign funds should be adopted along with anticipated recommendations to increase legislative pay. It is also important that legislators, especially those who commute long distances to Salem and within their districts, receive a boost in per diem expenses.

Read about the history of Democracy Reform Oregon's work for ethics reform