Can you give us a recent example of our state legislature
passing laws to protect their self interest?
Hidden in an unrelated bill, lawmakers recently passed Section 173.475
which provides in part, and I quote:
"….no public college or university shall reject an applicant
for a faculty position based solely on that applicant having not earned
a graduate degree, provided that the applicant has earned an undergraduate
degree and has served for at least 8 years in the general assembly."
What is the potential legal consequence to a public university
if they don't hire a law maker for a faulty position?
This law in effect creates a cause of action for a former lawmaker.
The former law maker can sue a university for discrimination if their
application for a faculty position is turned down based on Section 173.
Aren't there laws that deal with politicians and ethics?
What areas or topics are typically dealt with by ethics laws?
What limitations are placed on politicians in Missouri?
- You don't want someone in charge of a state agency to abuse
that position or siphon $ from the agency.
- So officials are not allowed to do work for any state agency that
they have power over in an amount above $500 per job or more than $5,000
per year.
- A state official is required to file a notice of a potential conflict
of interest if they have a private interest in a law or regulation
before the agency.
- All campaign contributions and expenditures must be identified and
documented.
The public and the media must be on the look out for governmental
abuse of power.
