Local lawmakers said a comprehensive ethics reform bill signed into law by the governor yesterday was crucial in helping to restore public trust in government following several scandals that have rocked Beacon Hill.
The sweeping legislation bans gifts to public officials, increases penalties for violations of ethics laws, and expands the power of various state authorities to investigate and prosecute ethics violations.
"This legislation, I believe, is one of those once-in-a-generation opportunities, of which I believe we've taken advantage," said state Rep. Peter Koutjoujian, D-Waltham.
State Rep. Thomas Stanley, D-Waltham, who was one of seven House Democrats who in January refused to reelect House Speaker Sal DiMasi, said passage of the legislation was long overdue.
DiMasi and three associates last month were indicted on federal charges alleging they conspired to help a software company win $20 million in state contracts and conceal money they got from the company.
"In light of events on Beacon Hill during the past year, passage of the ethics reform bill is imperative to begin to restore public trust," Stanley said in an e-mail. "The consensus bill bans all gifts to public officials, imposing a hefty civil violation for gifts up to $1,000 and making it a felony for anything with value greater than $1,000. In addition, it increases the authority of the Ethics Commission to investigate and prosecute alleged ethics violations."
State Sen. Susan Fargo, D-Lincoln, said in a statement after the House and Senate passed the ethics reform bill last week that the legislation "a major step forward in restoring public trust at a time when we must have transparency, integrity and clarity in all levels of government."
Koutoujian said the bill is also important because it tightens and better defines lobbying laws.
Richard Conn can be reached at 781-398-8004 or rconn@cnc.com. Material from the Associated Press was used in this report.
