Gov. Nathan Deal signed legislation into law that critics say will make it harder for the public to find out if state lawmakers have possible conflicts of interest.
Senate Bill 199 was amended late in the 2016 legislative session and was approved after The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and the Georgia News Lab reported that House Majority Leader Jon Burns, R-Newington, failed to properly disclose at least $120,000 in state agency payments to his private business.
Burns’ Atlanta attorney said the lawmaker has always submitted filings that were consistent with his understanding of the disclosure rules, and that the changes passed by the Legislature were necessary to “clarify the law.”
The state ethics commission, which has the power to fine and sanction officials for violations, is currently reviewing Burns' filings to determine if he's complied with disclosure laws.
Tucked into SB 199 is a sentence that says lawmakers and other state officials do not have to report payments from the state on both personal financial disclosure reports and business transaction reports.
Another sentence would ensure that non-statewide officials, such as Burns and other legislators, do not have to disclose payments from political subdivisions of the state, like school districts.
Both respond to issues raised by the AJC/News Lab story.
After the January story ran, Burns and his attorney argued that any payments he did not disclose on his personal financial disclosure were listed on separate business transaction reports, fulfilling, they said, his obligations.
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