Ethics Commissioners Say Bill Would Impose an Arbitrary Cutoff for Investigations

Commissioners Murray Sagsveen, left, and Ronald Goodman, right.  (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)

(By: Mary Steure. North Dakota Monitor) – The Ethics Commission fears changes approved by North Dakota lawmakers could allow alleged ethical violations by public officials to go unaddressed.

“We’re going to allow ethical concerns to fester,” Executive Director Rebecca Binstock said during a special meeting to discuss how legislation making its way through the session could impact the commission’s work.

Members of the House voted to approve a number of amendments to the commission’s budget, Senate Bill 2004, which included a new provision requiring the commission to dismiss ethics complaints older than 180 days. If the bill is signed into law, it would take effect immediately.

The change stemmed from some lawmakers’ frustrations with the pace at which the commission processes complaints. Some filings are more than two years old.