Blind trust bill clears House

The Clarion-Ledger, 2/26/8

A bill that would establish regulations for politicians’ blind trusts cleared the House floor today.

House Bill 795 passed with 116 legislators voting for it and two opposing it. The bill addresses trusts established after July 1, which means it would not apply to a trust created by GOP Gov. Haley Barbour.

Barbour’s trust drew criticism from Democrats last year who questioned whether it was truly “blind.”

Blind trusts are sometimes created by politicians to shield themselves from conflicts of interest. State law mandates that public officials disclose sources of private income of more than $2,500. But the law does not address blind trusts.