Ethics Complaint Split Indecision

The party line split of the House Ethics Committee is the latest example of the two party system’s inability to take action on the latest complaint against Representative Arlon Lindner. The Independence Party upholds the constitutional right to free speech. It is an embarrassment for the House Ethics Committee to fail to send even the smallest message to one of its members who spreads misinformation as fact on the House floor.

Once again bi-partisanship exists only in cases of incumbent self-protection. Without tri-partisan representation in government, party line votes can not help but lead to inertia. Principle would be put before Party if the Ethics Committees could not split into equal party-line votes.

The constituents of District 32A still have the opportunity to recall Representative Lindner. Members of the Independence Party continue to investigate this option. With the vast resources of Democratic and Republican parties this process would take a short amount of time and the people of 32A could be immediately served. Unfortunately neither of those parties is likely to take any real action.

Released: 4/24/03