Sen. Buckner to Ensure Better Access to Ethics Commission Information

ATLANTA (Jan. 11, 2010) – Sen. Gail Buckner (D-Morrow) plans to file legislation to ensure that messages are clearly posted on a legislator’s website when they experience technical difficulties involving the State Ethics Commission website, such as filing campaign disclosure reports.  The bill comes as a result of problems that Buckner personally experienced with filing her reports recently.

“I had two separate disclosures that I needed to file and the Ethics Commission’s website where the disclosures are emailed wouldn’t accept what I was sending them.  I filed one disclosure by calling the office and a technology person tweaked the site so that my information would pass through, but the office closed before the second disclosure was sent through.  That left me on the website having not filed a disclosure on time,” said Buckner. 

“The legislation that I have asked Legislative Counsel to draft would mandate that when a technical problem happens, such as the one I experienced, then the Ethics Commission will post a notice on that person’s website stating that a technical problem prevented the transmittal of the information.  Citizens should have easy access to all of this information on the Ethic’s Commission’s website.”

Buckner already has several bills she intends to present this session, but is now working with Legislative Council draft this new bill after the Georgia Ethics website could not process her campaign disclosures on Friday, Jan. 8, the last day to file a disclosure.  “Legislators get ideas for legislation from citizens who bring issues to their attention, or from problems that they have personally dealt with,” added Buckner. 

Throughout her 17-year career in public service, Buckner has been committed to ensuring citizens’ access to open and transparent government.  Today marks the beginning of the 2010 Legislative Session, and Buckner is preparing to introduce the legislation she has lined up for this year. 
 
“This situation reminds me of one of my favorite sayings, ‘It is important for all citizens to have The Truth, the Whole Truth, and Nothing but the Truth.’”

Sen. Gail Buckner represents the 44th Senate District, which includes portions of Clayton and Henry counties. She can be reached by phone at 404.463.5260 or email at gail.buckner@senate.ga.gov.

PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release:
January 11, 2010
For Information Contact:
Raegan Weber, Director
Kallarin Richards, Senior Communications Specialist
Kallarin.Richards@senate.ga.gov
404.656.0028