Joint Ethics Committee compromises on six month cooling off period for elected officials

Intro:	The House and Senate conference committee on ethics has agreed on a six month cooling off period to begin at the end of an official's elected term.
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Wrap: The cooling off period prevents all individuals, regardless of future political ambitions, from pursuing a career as a registered lobbyist for the six months following their elected term.

St. Charles County Republican Senator Bob Onder said the six month cooling off period serves as a compromise between the House and the Senate.

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Description: You bring it down to zero just isn't, you know I think the house doesn't find palatable. I think going to the house position of a full year there's no way in heck we get that through the Senate.

The House felt the year long cooling period could serve as a safegaurd against corruption, but Kansas City Democrat, Senator Jason Holsman, said other Senators were concerned that it unjustly barred previously elected officials from seeking employment.

No vote was taken on the bill.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Allison Pecorin.

Intro:	Senate concerns that a cooling off period for elected officials would unjstly bar previously elected officials from employment were raised in a joint ethics committee meeting.
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Wrap: Kansas City Democrat, Senator Jason Holsman, said that other Senators had expressed concern that the cooling-off period did little to address corruption, and instead hurt previously elected official's job prospects.

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Description: I contend that 90 percent, 95 percent of the people aren't trying to leverage their position. They're doing public service, and then when they're done they're seeking employment for what they know and they know the process of a general aseembly.

The joint committee agreed on a six month cooling off period that would prevent elected officials from pursuing a lobbying career for at least six months from the end of their elected term.

House Representatives were in favor of a year long cooling off period that they felt would lessen the chances of corruption.

Reporting from the State Capitol, I'm Allison Pecorin

Intro:	A joint ethics committee fleshed out concerns today that Senate changes to the House revolving door bill made it ineffective.
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Wrap: The bill proposes a cooling-off period that would prevent elected officials from pursuing lobbying careers until after a predetermined amount of time.

The House bill included a one year cooling off period, but the Senate changed the language to state that elected officials need only wait until the end of their elected term.

Columbia Republican and bill sponsor Representative Caleb Rowden said some cooling off period would be necessary to maintain the bill's purpose.

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Description: Generally speaking if we pass a revolving door legislation without a revolving door mechanism, I don't think anyone considers that a win.

The conference committee agreed on a compromise that would create a six month cooling off period beginning at the end of an official's elected term.

Reporting from the State Capitol, I'm Allison Pecorin