Is Alabama politics so corrupt ethics reform can’t be accomplished in the regular session? The taxpayers are being asked to pay for a special session—at a cost of $300,000—with only three months before the regular session convenes. You have to ask, why the rush? The reason apparently is to avoid lobbyist getting to new legislators. If legislators are subject to being corrupted in only a month or two in Montgomery, we have a problem with the type people being sent there. Have we actually stooped to this level in state government? Are there no honest decent people remaining or being elected to offices of the public trust? It is a sad commentary when things have to be rushed through the legislature in special session for fear of money and influence getting to policy makers.

You can’t blame the lobbyist as much as the people entrusted to carry out the people‘s business. However, this being the case, any ethics reform should include a complete ban on gifts and entertainment by lobbyist for legislators, subpoena power for the Ethics Commission, ban double dipping legislators, full disclosure of campaign contributions by both lobbyist and elected official, and no PAC to PAC transfers period.

We need integrity and honesty in state and federal government or else the public trust will never be restored. The people are being sold short at both levels of government.

Apparently our state has been run by elected people who looked out for their own interest before the people.

This being the case, graft and corruption abound on Goat Hill through special interest money and influence.

There needs to be a new order and a new group of morally upright public servants installed to carry out government business. I do not buy the premise you have to be crooked to serve in government.

It would seem to a novice that we the people need protection from the lobbyist and our own representatives.

I’m not sure the measures being talked about to reform ethics is actually strong enough.

I believe expulsion and jail time should be waiting anyone breaking the people’s sacred trust.

I’m against a special session to deal with ethics reform. Let them deal with it during regular session instead of wasting time trying to legalize gambling.

The new legislators deserve a chance to prove themselves worthy of our vote.