By Associated Press
Montgomery, AL – Governor Riley has vetoed an ethics bill that passed the Legislature without a dissenting vote. The bill would have expanded the state law on lobbyists by requiring people to register with the State Ethics Commission if they try to influence no-bid state contracts.
The bill's sponsor, state Representative Marcel Black, says he's extremely disappointed. He said the bill fit in with Riley's call for more openness in government.
A spokesman for the governor says he vetoed the bill because it was redundant. Jeff Emerson says any state contracts that go before the Legislature's Contract Review Committee already have to list the lobbyists who are involved.
Senate Majority Leader Zeb Little says the bill would have shed light on the lobbying activities of the governor's family. But Emerson says the governor's family doesn't lobby.
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)