“Turner Rule” should be part of legislative ethics reforms

STATEHOUSE – Below is the text of an open “letter to the editor” that was recently submitted to newspapers across the state:

To the Editor:

It is fitting that the saga of Eric Turner’s tenure as an Indiana state representative ends with him announcing that he is leaving that post, but not resigning as a candidate in this fall’s election. In other words, he will not serve, even if re-elected.

Prior to this year, Rep. Turner had experience with our rules on disclosure of personal financial interests. He well knew the need to abstain from voting and debating on matters in which he had a substantial interest.

I will not detail that history here. Suffice it to say he knew the rules and was obliged to obey them.

Thus, he carefully abstained this spring from public votes or debates on the issue of a moratorium on nursing home construction. He had millions of dollars at stake.

However, he chose not to remain silent. Instead, he invoked a different rule: one that asks House members to share their real-world expertise. He used that to justify lobbying the Indiana House Republican Caucus in secret. That act was wrong in intent and effect. It hurt his caucus and the entire House.

In light of this, the Speaker of the House announced he would expel Rep. Turner from a leadership position in the Republican caucus.

It is our duty as members of the General Assembly to avoid abuse of our offices. It is also our duty to understand what leads to abuse.

This sorry affair has identified some clear areas needing improvement.

Our House rule governing self-interest is too specific. This rule forbids speaking and voting on matters of serious personal financial interest. It should be expanded to expressly forbid any legislative activity on a matter seriously affecting oneself, including lobbying one’s fellow members.

While many of us gathered the intent of the rule, Rep. Turner found that he could still work around it by simply participating in caucus discussions. In effect, he became a lobbyist, not a state legislator.

I would propose a change…for the sake of clarity, let us call it the Turner Rule.

The Turner Rule would simply state that any legislator who has a conflict that requires disclosure would be barred from ANY legislative activity, ranging from providing “information” to lobbying fellow members to voting on the issue to chairing a committee that meets on the issue.

All this should be put into place with NO limitations. Violation should lead to immediate sanctions.

So the Turner Rule is simple: No legislative role or activity at all when your wallet is at issue.

Edward DeLaney
State Representative
Indiana House District 86