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Fort Wayne Mayor Tom Henry has passed away after a brief battle with cancer.

Ethics Rules Reform Top House GOP's Legislative Agenda

Brandon Smith
/
Indiana Public Broadcasting

House Speaker Brian Bosma says reforming the General Assembly’s ethics rules will be a key part of his party’s agenda in the upcoming legislative session. Bosma says he wants to make it a bipartisan effort.

The legislature’s ethics rules have come under increased scrutiny this year after GOP Representative Eric Turner allegedly lobbied against a nursing home industry bill, an effort which netted him and his family millions of dollars. 

Yet the House Ethics Committee found Turner hadn’t violated any rules. Speaker  Brian Bosma says strengthening financial disclosure policies is necessary to help boost public trust.

“I think when someone has a substantial and personal material interest in something," says Bosma, "they should not be  involved – publicly or privately – in the policy making arena on that.” 

Bosma says he will work with leaders from all four legislative caucuses – Republicans and Democrats –  to help craft that reform effort.

House Minority Leader Scott Pelath says he welcomes that partnership.

“Our system of ethics is a living, breathing thing and when we have to make prudent changes, then  certainly we need to make those together," says Pelath. "And what we need is an institution that people have faith in,  that functions effectively, is transparent and that people want to serve in.”

House Republicans say an honestly-balanced budget, more public education funding and a greater commitment to public safety are their other top priorities for the upcoming legislative session.

Brandon Smith is excited to be working for public radio in Indiana. He has previously worked in public radio as a reporter and anchor in mid-Missouri for KBIA Radio out of Columbia. Prior to that, he worked for WSPY Radio in Plano, Illinois as a show host, reporter, producer and anchor. His first job in radio was in another state capitol, in Jefferson City, Missouri, as a reporter for three radio stations around Missouri. Brandon graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a Bachelor of Journalism in 2010, with minors in political science and history. He was born and raised in Chicago.