There's a lot to live up to in being a Maine lawmaker, with such examples as Margaret Chase Smith and Waterville's native son, George Mitchell. These are people I have the highest respect for, and who I keep in mind as a member of our state's legislative committee working to overhaul Maine's legislative ethics laws. When I read the newspaper's recent editorial on this subject [Ethics reform pales under stage lights, March 10, 2008], I couldn't help but be disappointed that legislative ethics were not considered in this same light.

The committee has been working hard to have a high minded debate that is respectful and focuses on the issues at hand. However, the editorial that featured two fictional legislators cynically downplaying the need for this legislation did not reflect the sentiments of the committee, or of the many citizens who came to offer their insight on why ethics reform is important for Maine.

Working for the priorities of Maine people isn't about a spotlight. It's about transparency in government.

The Legal and Veterans' Affairs Committee, of which I am a member, has been reviewing a number of proposals aimed at addressing standards of behavior and increasing levels of disclosure for legislators. Some of the proposals are controversial among legislators, others are not, but all of them are being reviewed in good faith.

It's important that Maine people know the steps we are taking to make this happen, and how Speaker of the House Glenn Cummings' comprehensive ethics legislation, which I support, is helping us along that path.

Some legislators have trouble with a provision to allow citizens to file complaints directly with the Ethics Commission. I have faith that the bipartisan commission will be able to distinguish the serious complaints of abuse of office from frivolous ones.

As a first-term legislator, this session has been an eye-opener. Legislators get inundated with e-mails, letters, and phone messages and it can be overwhelming to reply to all of them quickly. There are also times when a legislator is in the difficult position of simply disagreeing with a constituent on a policy issue.

While these tasks are important, Cummings' legislation would address complaints against legislators based on a conflict of interest or using undue influence and complaints would be kept confidential unless the commission truly feels they have merit.

The Speaker's legislation would broaden the definition of what a conflict of interest is and would clarify what undue influence is. Current law is so vague that it is difficult to apply it. Furthermore, if a citizen were to believe that a legislator were guilty of either of these, current law is unclear on how they could bring the matter to the proper authorities.

Some of my colleagues do question whether this legislation is needed, citing that only six complaints have been filed with the Ethics Commission in the last 10 years and all of them were dismissed. But I believe that the process is so unclear, so inaccessible, that few have the resources and wherewithal to follow through on a complaint and once they do, the Ethics Commission has been given little authority to act. The Speaker's legislation would help to clarify this process.

Cummings has presented comprehensive ethics legislation based on the thoughtful study by the Featherman Commission, convened by Senate President Beth Edmonds and former Speaker John Richardson in 2006. I do agree with the newspaper's editorial board that the Legislature ought to act on those recommendations.

Lowering the level of public discourse to thinly veiled insults is no way to encourage ethical behavior, a standard Maine people have come to expect from their lawmakers.

Rep. Pamela Jabar Trinward (D-Waterville) represents District 77 and is serving her first term as a member of the Legal and Veterans Affairs Committee.