Oregon Watchdog: Rep. Hanna to hold ethics reform town hall

Representative Bruce Hanna, HD7
House Republican Leader

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 19, 2008
CONTACT: Nick Smith, 503-986-1351

REP. HANNA TO HOLD ETHICS REFORM TOWN HALL
House Republican Leader to Address 2007 Legislation at Sutherlin Meeting

SUTHERLIN – House Republican Leader Bruce Hanna (R-Roseburg) will hold an Ethics Reform Town Hall on Tuesday, May 27 in Sutherlin. Rep. Hanna will bring community leaders and citizens together to discuss the impact of ethics legislation passed in 2007.

“The 2007 legislation has burdened locally-elected officials and volunteers, causing mass resignations throughout rural Oregon,” Rep. Hanna said. “Oregon needs an ethics law that assures transparency and accountability, but does not dissuade citizens from serving.”

Rep. Hanna will share the results of his on-line Ethics Survey, which asked local leaders about their opinion on the law and how it could be fixed. The results can be found here. Rep. Hanna said he will use the survey results and input from the town hall to develop ethics reform legislation for the 2009 session.

“Last year I supported legislation to limit gifts, require more frequent reporting and to increase penalties for ethics violations, but I have opposed onerous requirements on local officials from the beginning,” Rep. Hanna said. “It’s right for government to continue pushing for more disclosure and transparency, and more work needs to be done to improve our state’s ethics laws. We will only be successful if legislators listen to the people in their communities.”

The town hall is open to the public, and elected officials and volunteers are encouraged to attend. The town hall will be held at the Sutherlin Civic Auditorium, 175 E. Everett Avenue in Sutherlin from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. For more information on the town hall, call (503) 515-4272.
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