Ihlenfeld Bill Targets Lawmaker Contracts With State Agencies
Trending
WHEELING -- The first bill introduced by freshman West Virginia Sen. William Ihlenfeld seeks to stop state lawmakers from financially benefiting from contracts with state agencies.
Senate Bill 370 would add West Virginia legislators to existing state law that currently prohibits public employees, elected officials and their families from having an interest in public contracts. It also would require the West Virginia Ethics Commission to conduct oversight and make a public statement in certain circumstances.
Ihlenfeld, D-W.Va., said legislators previously were included in the law, but at some point "were carved out." The omission was brought to his attention during the last election.
"A carve-out was made for legislators, is my understanding," he said. "At one time, the exemption didn't exist."
Then as he attended required ethics training before the start of the legislative session last month, he was again made aware of the lawmakers' exemption. A representative of the Ethics Commission discussed the law and informed incoming state lawmakers it didn't pertain to them.
"They said, you don't need to worry about this one. It doesn't pertain to you," Ihlenfeld said. "I found it interesting. I knew about lawmakers not being included in the law before coming down to Charleston, and it confirmed for me the importance in introducing the bill."
SB 370 seeks "to tighten up the law -- for good reason," according to Ihlenfeld.
"As lawmakers, we make the rules, and sometimes the rules are made to benefit those serving in the body. There is not enough transparency. That's why it's important for the Ethics Commission to have oversight as an independent body to oversee this process -- and not allow our fellow legislators to decide if it is ethical or not."