Daren and Mitch, the Alabama experience may be instructive. It’s Ethics Commission
is now more than 30 years old and has led to the conviction of governors, treasurers,
legislators, insurance commissioners and others. Several did active
prison time. The fact that the commission exists at all is a
wonder. Only a game of chicken, recounted in detail here (pdf format), between the two houses of the state legislature and Gov. George Wallace led to its creation.
But
you’re right, Mitch. The knowledge that a state
ethics commission anywhere has sent elected officials to jail is not
going to gain the idea much support in the General Assembly.
