Detroit (WWJ) -- Google the words "Detroit" and "corruption", and you will get 1.7 million hits. That's one of many reasons Attorney General Mike Cox is rolling out a set of ethics guidelines for local government to adopt to be transparent to a growing cynical constituency.
"People are worried and disappointed in their elected officials, people need to have more confidence in them," said Cox, speaking to reporters on Wednesday.
Warren Mayor Jim Fouts hopes his city will be the first to adopt them.
"We're going to assure the public our politicians makes decisions that are best for the public, not to enhance their net worth," Fouts said.
Fouts says a lack of ethics can cost a city residents, jobs and taxpayer money, referring to actions by the city's previous administration for examples.
"We had a couple of cases that cost the city and taxpayers ($6 million dollars) money, because some of these political appointees and elected officials didn't understand what was proper ethics and what was not proper ethics," he said.
The guidelines would provide a framework for local government to adopt , including bans on gifts, defining conflicts of interest and financial disclosure statements. The proposals also call for local ethics panels and jail time for violators.
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