The Montgomery Advertisor explains what’s needed to address the situation in Jefferson County, Alabama.

Stringent ethics laws, with strict disclosure requirements, would help create a more transparent operating climate for government. Better campaign finance laws that make clear the links between the contributions of individuals or interest groups and the politicians who get those contributions would help create more awareness among the electorate.

The people of the state deserve as much protection from the abuse of their trust as laws can provide. If anything good can come out of this fiasco in Jefferson County, perhaps it will be the overdue strengthening of Alabama’s ethics and campaign finance laws. If this swamp of corruption and deception cannot breed enough outrage among Alabamians for them to demand such reforms, it is hard to imagine what it would take.

Some background is here.