Ethics Panel Chief Assails Plans to Challenge Law

The president of the Los Angeles Ethics Commission on Thursday criticized city officials and commissioners who have said they may file a lawsuit or lobby the City Council to lessen a tough financial disclosure law approved by voters last year.

“Public disclosure of financial interests is fundamental to ensuring public accountability,” Dennis Curtis, president of the Ethics Commission, said in a prepared statement.

Library Commissioner Douglas R. Ring, also a lawyer and lobbyist, had previously called the financial disclosure reports an invasion of privacy. He called a meeting this Saturday with other commissioners and officials to discuss altering the law, possibly with a lawsuit or lobbying effort.

Curtis acknowledged that the law has “bugs,” but said the commission should be allowed to work them out.