STATE ETHICS LAW PROTECTION ACT OF 2010

Floor Speech

* Mr. FOSTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 3427, the State Ethics Law Protection Act of 2009. This simple bill goes a long way in closing a loophole that discourages states from enacting tough pay-to-play reforms.

* Under current policy, states like Illinois that take a stand against corrupt practices by prohibiting the awarding of highway contracts to campaign contributors may jeopardize a share of their highway funding. In 2008, when a tough pay-to-play law was being considered in Illinois, the Federal Highway Administration intervened and threatened to withhold Federal dollars if the law was enacted.

* The shameful and unethical string of crimes perpetrated by public officials in the State of Illinois is by now well known, but the FHWA's intervention led the General Assembly to water down what would have been a tough and effective anti-corruption law. What's more, the FHWA's application of this policy has been occasional and uneven. Of the eight states that have enacted pay-to-play legislation, only New Jersey and Illinois have been singled out.

* H.R. 3427 will untie the hands of state legislatures that seek to take bold action to combat pay-to-play practices and restore the public's faith in government. It will also help ensure that federal dollars will not be wasted on contracts doled out to political cronies.

* I urge my colleagues to support this important bill, which will help state legislatures hold the line against corruption.

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