A Missouri legislator described an ethics reform proposal as the most sweeping reforms in the universe.  The report is here.

There are parts of the bill that make sense. A governor, for instance, can’t accept campaign donations from people he or she appoints to top offices.

Good.

But here’s the gimmick: The bill also contains numerous provisions that Democrats can’t support and that practically force them to vote no. That was on purpose. Republicans designed the bill to get Democrats on record as opposing ethics reform so they can use those votes to embarrass them in upcoming elections.

Case in point: In a provision completely unrelated to ethics, the bill guarantees the right to vote by secret ballot to form unions.