Ethics Reform Is Focus of Day Three of the Governor's Statewide Fly-around

Ethics Reform Is Focus of Day Three of the Governor's Statewide Fly-around

Atlanta - Governor Sonny Perdue today continued to unveil his legislative agenda during day three of his statewide fly-around. At stops in Watkinsville, Augusta, and Savannah, over one thousand elected officials, community leaders and local citizens heard Governor Perdue stress the need for real ethics reform in Georgia.

"Last year, partisan obstruction killed any chance of meaningful ethics reform. My strong ethics reform package sailed through the Senate but was bottled up in a House committee. We never got a floor vote," said Governor Sonny Perdue. "This session, my Floor Leaders will reintroduce the Honesty in Government Act. We'll give House members a second chance to vote on ethics reform for our future before you vote on their futures this November."

Governor Perdue's Honesty in Government bill will close the revolving door and prohibit public officials from lobbying for one year after they leave office; protect state employees who blow the whistle on fraud and corruption; ban legislators and statewide officials from soliciting campaign funds during the Legislative Session; clamp down honoraria and gifts to public officials; and require greater financial disclosure by candidates, office-holders, and lobbyists.

"To obstructionists who stand in the way, I will mark them, move around them, and count on you to deal with them in November," added Perdue.

In addition to ethics reform, Governor Perdue continued to stress that his budget and legislative package will focus on Georgia's children, jobs and long-term economic growth, and responsible budgeting that includes no tax increases.