Legislative leaders show contempt for public

Republican leaders in the General Assembly continually demonstrate contempt for anyone who questions what they do, especially other Republicans. Unfortunately, contempt leads to contemptuous behavior.

Too often, contemptuous behavior can turn into corruption.

We often hear of powerful legislators trying to steer lucrative government contracts to companies owned by their wives, children or other close relatives.

If nothing else, such actions present serious conflicts of interest and demonstrate poor character. As President Abraham Lincoln said: “if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.”

The State Grand Jury has indicted four legislators, and now the FBI is involved; the attorney general seemed like he was trying to stop a prosecutor from continuing his investigation.

Once weak-kneed legislators are infected by this perverse system, they become hucksters, peddling lame excuses for voting with special interests. They quickly morph from advocates to sycophants who simply vote as the leadership says.

In its proper role, party loyalty is good. However, it should not supersede principle or loyalty to, and respect for, the voters. Voters must get informed and get involved, or they will get snookered, again, in 2018.

This story was originally published September 24, 2017 at 6:35 PM with the headline "Legislative leaders show contempt for public."