GOP leaders: Ethics reform unlikely in 2012

BOISE (AP) — Republican House and Senate leaders say it's unlikely the Legislature will pass any ambitious ethics reforms this year.

When the 2012 Legislature began, Democratic and Republican leaders agreed the time may be ripe for creating an independent ethics commission or mandating a one-year break for public officials leaving government for a lobbying job.

But Senate President Pro Tem Brent Hill says getting those changes through the Legislature seems of reach right now.

A bipartisan working group was appointed to study an ethics commission, but Hill says the group didn't function as planned and failed to reach agreement on how to proceed.

The lack of action on ethics this year is frustrating for Democrats.

Democratic Rep. Phyllis King says it's unfortunate lawmakers missed another chance to bolster ethics rules .