The Ghost of Christmas Presents
In a holiday-themed archetype of legislative overreach, Alabama passed an ethics law earlier this year forbidding K-12 school teachers from accepting expensive presents. Previous legislation set a $100 limit on individual gifts to public workers, but the new law specifies that gifts to teachers be limited to those of nominal value. The stated purpose: to reinforce ethical practices by state employees.
This was such a big deal that the AL Ethics Commission was receiving about 25 calls a day from parents who didn't want to get their children's teachers in trouble. The Ethics Commission released a detailed report, letting parents know that cookies, hand lotion and mugs are OK. What I found interesting was what was forbidden. Four
This was such a big deal that the AL Ethics Commission was receiving about 25 calls a day from parents who didn't want to get their children's teachers in trouble. The Ethics Commission released a detailed report, letting parents know that cookies, hand lotion and mugs are OK. What I found interesting was what was forbidden. Four