Mass. House Speaker Robert DeLeo Pushing for Review of State Ethics Laws

If approved, the task force would review the state's conflict-of-interest and ethics rules

House Speaker Robert DeLeo is pushing for a special panel to review ethical guidelines for public officials in Massachusetts.

The Winthrop Democrat's resolution to create the 11-member Task Force on Integrity in State and Local Government is scheduled for a public hearing at the Statehouse on Tuesday.

If approved, the task force would review the state's conflict-of-interest and ethics rules; campaign finance disclosure laws; and laws related to lobbyists. The resolution calls for the panel to report its findings by Dec. 23.

DeLeo began floating the idea of the ethics panel earlier this year, shortly after reports surfaced of a federal investigation into whether Democratic state Sen. Brian Joyce had used his official position to boost his private law practice.

Joyce hasn't been charged and has denied wrongdoing.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
Contact Us