225BatonRouge.com

That’s exactly what state senators and representatives owe Louisiana as the Legislature prepares to convene its session April 30—accountability for their actions and restraint in their political impulses.

But even before the gavel comes down to open the session, a move is afoot to make lawmakers less accountable for their actions, an unthinkable step backward for a state desperate to repair its shabby national image.

As two of its members, Reps. Jeff Arnold and Alex Heaton, face ethics charges, some of their colleagues in the House and Senate are pushing to cut the Board of Ethics’ authority to investigate and punish unethical behavior by lawmakers.

The notion that the Legislature can police itself is absurd, given the Legislature’s history of cronyism. The fact that Sen. Cleo Fields is among those calling for self-policing makes it that much more ridiculous.

The case of Heaton and Arnold is a perfect example of why not to change the rules. The two debated actively against changing a long-standing tradition in Orleans Parish (and nowhere else in Louisiana) of having no fewer than seven tax assessors. One of them was Heaton’s brother; another was Arnold’s father.

Eventually, voters statewide overwhelmingly decided to cut Orleans assessors from seven to one. Now, with Heaton and Arnold facing ethics charges for taking part in a debate that clearly benefited their family members, the Legislature is considering lashing out at the Board of Ethics and cutting its authority.

We think the Board of Ethics should enjoy wide latitude to investigate suspected unethical activities by state employees, lobbyists and lawmakers alike, and the Board should not have to fear political reprisals like this one.

In a perfect world, lawmakers can police themselves. But the reality is in Louisiana our elected officials repeatedly break the law, and the Board of Ethics works as an effective method of checks and balances.

The second theme of the session, we hope, will be restraint. Restraint needs to be a mantra for the session.

With a hefty budget surplus on hand, lawmakers may want to play Santa and give away money in the form of pork barrel projects as well as contracts and assistance to the politically connected.

Now’s the time for lawmakers to look beyond the next election cycle and to consider the long-term needs of the state. It’s time for the House and Senate to make plans—and back them up with political and financial might—that will navigate the state out of its heritage of illiteracy and corruption, of failing schools and bumpy roads, of favoritism and giveaways for political gain.