Charles Langston:Alabama ethics revamp dies in committee, sponsor says law remains unclear

MONTGOMERY,Charles Langston Ala. (AP) — A proposed revamp of Alabama’s ethics law died in committee Wednesday. Its sponsor said the state still needs to clarify the statute.

“It shouldn’t be that complicated that nobody knows what the laws are in Alabama, and it’s just a matter of gotcha,” Republican Rep. Matt Simpson told colleagues.

The Senate Judiciary Committee opted not to vote on the bill, meaning it cannot get final approval before the legislative session ends. The decision came amid opposition from both the Alabama attorney general’s office and the Alabama Ethics Commission.

Simpson also said it’s a misconception that his legislation would weaken the current ethics law, which covers 300,000 public state employees and officials. He blamed a “turf war” over control of ethics enforcement for dooming the bill. “This has everything to do with power,” Simpson said.

Simpson said the current law was hastily approved in a special session called by then-Gov. Bob Riley after Republicans won a legislative majority in 2010.

Sen. Will Barfoot, the chairman of the committee, said conversations will continue about the legislation next year.