ETHICS PANEL TO REVIEW WEB RULES : CITY COMPUTERS' USE FOR POLITICS STUDIED.Byline: Patrick McGreevy Daily News Staff Writer The Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. Ethics Commission In the United States, an Ethics Commission is a commission established by State law to discourage dishonest practices by their public employees and elected officials. Almost all American states have such a commission. for the first time is entering a cyber-regulatory world that seeks to ensure politicians don't use tax-funded computers to further their political campaigns. Commissioners said this week they will specifically review whether regulations need to be beefed up to ban political messages on city Web pages - electronic documents that can be accessed by residents on their personal computers. Ethics Commissioner Ed Guthman Edwin O. Guthman (born 1919) is a journalist. He was the editorial page editor for The Philadelphia Inquirer (1977-1987), the national editor for the Los Angeles Times from 1965 to 1977, a reporter for the Seattle Star (1941-1947), and a reporter for said the review will revolve around Verb 1. revolve around - center upon; "Her entire attention centered on her children"; "Our day revolved around our work" center, center on, concentrate on, focus on, revolve about whether existing laws that prohibit the use of taxpayer funds on political mailings also apply to political computer messages. No Los Angeles politician has put a blatantly bla·tant adj. 1. Unpleasantly loud and noisy: "There are those who find the trombones blatant and the triangle silly, but both add effective color" Musical Heritage Review. political message on the city's computer Web site, such as ``vote for me,'' Guthman said. Nevertheless, the panel concluded that it will be helpful to provide guidance so those in city agencies will know what is expected, said LeeAnn Pelham Noun 1. Pelham - a bit with a bar mouthpiece that is designed to combine a curb and snaffle bit - piece of metal held in horse's mouth by reins and used to control the horse while riding; "the horse was not accustomed to a bit" , deputy director of the Ethics Commission. Pelham said a set of recommendations likely will be drafted by next month. Mayor Richard Riordan's office and about 30 other city agencies have begun to place informational pages on the city's World Wide Web site, part of a computer program that cost about $200,000 to set up. The mayor's page provides computer users with copies of speeches and press releases. City Councilman Mike Feuer, who put forth the council motion that proposed the commission's review, said he supports a review to determine whether additional rules are needed. He noted that many city officials are now asking to put information on the city Web site. |
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