The prison sentence handed down last week to former state Rep. Bryant Melton of Tuscaloosa is a strong reminder of the dangers of 'double-dipping' — and of the wisdom of the state Board of Education policy to ban the practice.

The Alabama Education Association and its allies in the Legislature oppose the policy, which makes it against the rules for two-year college employees to hold elected office by 2010.

The opposition is regrettable but not particularly surprising since the policy weakens the grip that the politically powerful AEA has on the Legislature. It is one of the reforms Postsecondary Chancellor Bradley Byrne instituted when Gov. Bob Riley chose him to succeed Roy Johnson, who was fired in the wake of a criminal investigation.

Melton's case illustrates why the state needs a ban on double-dipping. The longtime lawmaker was associate dean of Human Resources at Shelton State. An investigation found that he funneled taxpayer money, earmarked for education, to the school in an illegal kickback scheme that netted him tens of thousands of dollars. He used much of the money to pay personal gambling debts.

Because he agreed to provide information on others involved in the scheme, Melton got a lenient sentence: 15 months in prison and two years' probation. He also was ordered to pay $85,000 in restitution, perform 100 hours of community service and get counseling to stay away from gambling.

His case is a clear example of the temptations to abuse power that double-dipping poses. It's simply a matter of common sense that people who make decisions on funding two-year schools should not be employed by those schools.

In truth, the ban should be extended to every area of state government. But the Legislature will not allow for a reform so sweeping.

In fact, under pressure from AEA leader Paul Hubbert, the lawmakers almost passed a bill in this year's regular session to legalize double-dipping. The measure cleared the House 57-36. Fortunately, it fell into the Senate logjam and died on the final day.

The legislation is expected to be resurrected next year. Meanwhile, according to The Birmingham News, AEA is picking up the legal cost for an ongoing suit by some lawmakers challenging the school board ban.

Riley this year proposed a bill to ban state employees, employees of state boards, agencies, departments, or commissions, city and county school board members, and four-year university employees, from holding statewide elective office or serving in the Legislature. The bill also would have banned contracts for the same services.

Chances of passing that kind of bill are remote but it would be a foundation for reforms the state has long needed, like a ban on PAC-to-PAC transfers.

The school board policy is only a small step toward accountability. But it's a welcome one, nevertheless.