Democrats in the House of Delegates
had enough votes Monday to pass a bill that would add an additional layer of
ethics requirements on the state Attorney General.
The bill passed 52-44 despite
claims from House Republicans that it’s unconstitutional and will throw the
state into a constitutional crisis.
Del. John Shott, R-Mercer, called
the bill a “vindictive political campaign against one person,” current Attorney
General Patrick Morrisey, the Jefferson County Republican who won the statewide
office in 2012.
The bill would require Morrisey and
future state attorneys general to meet additional ethics requirements mainly
aimed at potential conflicts of interest.
“It’s a good bill,” claimed Del.
Isaac Sponaugle, D-Hardy. “It does two good things. It preserves the
integrity of the attorney general’s office and it protects the reputation
of the attorney holding the attorney general’s spot.”
Morrisey has been criticized for
not disclosing some conflicts of interest in connection with companies the
state has filed lawsuits against.
House Judiciary Committee Chairman
Tim Manchin, D-Marion, criticized Morrisey for not meeting with the House
Judiciary Committee about the bill and discuss the problems he has with the
legislation.
“This is not vindictive. If this
were vindictive at least he could come before us and tell us that, tell us why
it was vindictive,” Manchin said.
House Minority Leader Tim Armstead,
R-Kanawha, called the bill embarrassing and unconstitutional.
“This bill allows another branch of
government to come in and determine rules that the judiciary has already
established,” he said.
Del. Barbara Fleischauer,
D-Monongalia, said Morrisey has brought this additional review on himself.
“Given the conduct and the
questions—I think it’s only appropriate that we do that,” she said.
The bill also requires money won in
lawsuits by the state Attorney General to be forwarded to the legislature for
appropriation, an issue Morrisey has promoted since he ran for office.
Attorney General Morrisey’s office
released a statement Monday evening:
“The Office of the Attorney General
is deeply disappointed that the West Virginia House of Delegates today passed
unconstitutional and highly partisan legislation. This bill targets one person
in state government while not imposing similar standards on legislators or
other Constitutional offices. House Bill 4490, as it currently stands, will
cost the state many millions of dollars, jeopardize existing investigations and
lawsuits, and compromises the Attorney General’s ability to fight for the
Second Amendment and jobs in West
Virginia
Del. Shott agreed.
“In many ways this is a sad
situation. In many ways it’s a shameful situation and in only any way it’s
simply outrageous,” Shott said.
The bill now heads to the state Senate for consideration.
