Rep Spicer: Proud Double-Dipper!

It seems that State Representative Terry Spicer has decided that he will accept a position as superintendent of the Elba city school system. This is what is known as double-dipping, a sitting Legislator also drawing a paycheck from another government agency… one which he holds at least SOME control over because of his Legislative seat. In this case it’s a bit worse, because Spicer serves on the House committee that approves funding for the Education Trust Fund (ETF).

Because of this, GOP legislators are calling for him to resign his House seat in order to avoid a conflict of interest.

Republican Party leaders say Democratic state Rep. Terry Spicer should resign from the Legislature if he accepts a position as schools superintendent in Elba in southeast Alabama.

The Elba City School Board voted unanimously last week to offer the superintendent's position to Spicer. He said Wednesday he is in contract negotiations with the board.

Spicer serves on the House committee that approves the state education budget.

Alabama Republican Party communications director Philip Bryan said it would be a conflict of interest for Spicer to run Elba schools and at the same time vote on state funding for the system.

The practice of double-dipping is a bad one that should be stopped. I don’t often say “there oughta be a law,” but in this case I will. There oughta be a law to prevent sitting legislators from holding any other job with the State. The matter is in the courts, but that is specifically dealing with the State’s two-year college system. I would like to see it applied to ANY government job that receives funding from or is regulated by State government.

Why? Let’s look at it. The first problem is the conflict of interest… a legislator votes on funding bills for state agencies, and would be tempted to funnel larger budgets for (and oppose budget cuts to) the department for which he/she works. The second problem is influence… a state legislator will have a certain amount of influence with state agencies, and could use that to his/her advantage when seeking a position and/or seeking salary increases or special perks.

Isn’t that what happened with Sue Schmitz?

The problem is exacerbated for a legislator who serves on the committee responsible for providing funding to the agency he works for… his one vote counts for much more in a small committee.

The practice of double-dipping is one that encourages influence-peddling and corruption in our elected officials, and it should not be permitted to occur.