Why "Ethics Reform" is Doomed to Fail

The Registry of Election Finance is the State body charged with assessing fines for violations of campaign finance law. All they can do is assess the fines; enforcement of payment is up to the Attorney General. Guess what that means? Yup. Hundreds of thousands of dollars in already-assessed fines uncollected by scofflaw legislators. Sworn to uphold the State Constitution and its laws, but getting off scott-free when fined for breaking those laws. And the AG just turns his head. Is it any wonder the Tennessee Waltz sting was so successful in this kind of environment?

Ethics reform means nothing unless there are people who will enforce those laws. Do you really believe they'll create meaningful laws with regulatory enforcement and servants of the State willing to prosecute those laws? Don't hold your breath.