What part of "conflict of interest" does state Rep. Rida Cabanilla not understand?

Voters can at least breathe a sigh of relief that, belatedly, the 42nd District legislator sought to shelve a bill she co-sponsored, one that could have benefited her campaign treasurer.

House Bill 722 would have voided a city ordinance barring a new nursing home within 1,000 feet of another group home. Priscila Zampaga, the campaign treasurer, wants to open such a facility near the existing Victory Ohana Prison Fellowship in Waipahu.

But Cabanilla voted to pass the bill out of the Human Services and Housing Committee, and then asked for it to be held; she recused herself from the second vote, but never disclosed the conflict. She said she had misgivings about how voiding an ordinance interfered with county home rule — which is another valid concern, but not the only one.

It's the lack of disclosure that's the most disturbing point here. The rules about declaring personal conflicts are meant to maintain openness in government. Encouragingly, House Bill 1909 aims to clarify standards of conduct and establish an ethics committee. This measure deserves a hearing.

Cabanilla says she would take a different approach if she had a do-over, but added that she sees nothing wrong with what she did. This suggests some legislators could use instruction in the basic precepts of ethics in governance. It's sad to think such things are not self-evident, but it's apparent that they're not. Voters deserve better.