Bill Overview
Title: Anti-Corruption and Public Integrity Act
Description: This bill addresses issues of public integrity, ethics, conflicts of interest, lobbying, rulemaking, and judicial ethics. For example, the bill limits federal hiring of former registered lobbyists and establishes divestment requirements for senior government officials.
Sponsors: Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA]
Target Audience
Population: people affected by government integrity and ethics
Estimated Size: 330000000
- The bill pertains to issues such as public integrity, ethics, and conflicts of interest, which can potentially influence governance and public trust worldwide.
- Public officials across major democracies face similar scrutiny regarding ethics and conflicts of interest.
- International experiences and adaptations of such bills could impact governance measures globally.
Reasoning
- The policy primarily targets federal officials and their ethical conduct, but it has a broader impact on public trust and perception of government integrity.
- Given the budgetary constraints, the policy will have a focused implementation, affecting primarily the direct stakeholders such as federal employees and those intending to join federal positions.
- Since public trust is a general concern, the effects on broader societal wellbeing are expected to be moderate but sustained over time as trust can improve gradually.
- People whose careers intersect with government regulation, such as lobbyists and consultants, will feel a significant impact, necessitating career adjustments if they are to work within federal limitations.
- The policy could have educational impacts by promoting more public awareness around government ethics, affecting students and younger demographics indirectly.
- The policy's effectiveness will partly depend on public awareness and understanding, which is why information campaigns could be necessary to magnify some of its potential benefits.
- For those not directly interacting with federal entities, the policy's presence as a check against corruption will still carry a symbolic improvement to wellbeing by boosting trust.
Simulated Interviews
Federal Employee (Washington, D.C.)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I fully support enhancing ethical standards. It will reinforce public trust which is crucial for my work.
- Divestment could be challenging, but it's necessary to maintain integrity.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
Lobbyist (New York, NY)
Age: 32 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy could disrupt my career path; I might have to consider shifting to state-level lobbying.
- There should be more clarity on transitioning paths for people like me.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Graduate Student (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 27 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Learning about these initiatives is inspiring; it makes me more interested in pursuing a public service career.
- The government needs more ethical and transparent practices.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Retired Teacher (Austin, TX)
Age: 55 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's about time something has been done about ethics in government. This policy is overdue.
- Enhanced public integrity will strengthen community trust.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Lawyer (Chicago, IL)
Age: 41 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy will enhance fairness in dealings with the government.
- The need to enforce ethics is vital but needs to be clear.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Small Business Owner (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Improved ethics could level the playing field for small businesses.
- Government contracting should be fair and transparent.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Freelancer (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 22 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I hope the policy paves the way for more honest political campaigns.
- Digital marketers often navigate unclear ethical waters.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Nonprofit Director (Miami, FL)
Age: 38 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy aligns with what we've been advocating for years.
- Stronger ethics in government can amplify our advocacy efforts.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
IT Consultant (Raleigh, NC)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Ethics policies are needed to prevent corruption in procurement.
- This might lead to better project outcomes and trust.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Software Engineer (Seattle, WA)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Ethical reforms in government mirror what I'm seeing in tech.
- This is a step forward for legislation to catch up with societal values.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $250000000 (Low: $200000000, High: $300000000)
Year 2: $255000000 (Low: $205000000, High: $305000000)
Year 3: $260000000 (Low: $210000000, High: $310000000)
Year 5: $270000000 (Low: $220000000, High: $320000000)
Year 10: $300000000 (Low: $250000000, High: $350000000)
Year 100: $5000000000 (Low: $4500000000, High: $5500000000)
Key Considerations
- Effectiveness of the Act in practice depends on enforcement and government commitment.
- Potential for legal challenges affecting timelines and costs.
- Integration of new rules with existing systems may create transitional issues.