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Ethics reform bills introduced in SC Senate
Posted: 02.06.2013 at 7:43 PM
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Measures to strengthen South Carolina's ethics laws have been introduced in the Senate.  / WACH
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COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- Measures to strengthen South Carolina's ethics laws have been introduced in the Senate.

Sen. Wes Hayes says the three measures he introduced Wednesday serve as a starting point for the Senate Judiciary Committee.

One would ask voters whether complaints against legislators should be handled by the state Ethics Commission. House and Senate panels would no longer investigate their own members.

Changes in a broader bill include requiring public officials to disclose their income sources and defining campaign committees. That's designed to eliminate the loophole allowing groups to spend money on elections without identifying themselves or their donors.

Hayes notes he was a target of such secretive attacks last year.

The measures come a week after an independent commission created by Gov. Nikki Haley issued 23 recommendations for overhauling ethics laws.

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