You might think so, considering all the talk about ethics in the aftermath of former House Speaker Glenn Richardson's downfall for trysting with a female lobbyist while pushing legislation for her employer.
But the latest proposal from a member of the Republican leadership would still allow lobbyists to spend $100 per instance for meals, trips and concert tickets for legislators.
This plan is the work of Rep. Wendall Willard (R-Sandy Springs), who has clout as chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, assuming he retains his job under newly elected Speaker David Ralston of Blue Ridge.
The first question is: why should our legislators, elected to represent the people and paid salaries to boot, be allowed to accept one red cent from lobbyists whose purpose is to influence the votes of said legislators?
If a lobbyist has a good case, fine. Let him or her (and I understand the number of women lobbyists has dropped in the wake of the Richardson scandal) make the case on its merits and not on the basis of doing a favor - and a $100 meal or concert ticket is a favor - for the purpose of favorably influencing the recipient's vote.
And note that under Willard's bill, there is no limit to how many times a lobbyist can spend $100 on a legislator. It could be three or four times a day or 10 to 20 times a week. If this "reform" passes, you can be certain the lobbyists will be spending a lot more than $100 for one meal or concert ticket or whatever per key legislator to get the necessary votes.
According to the AP, Willard's bill has "bipartisan support." Sure it has. Too many of our purportedly reform-minded lawmakers want handouts from lobbyists instead of paying their own way, or using their per diem to pay for their own meals.
The only thing you can say for this bill is that it sets a limit as opposed to the unlimited lobbyist spending now allowed. But this is not the reform that's needed in Georgia.
Closer to reform is a bill sponsored by a Democrat, Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver of Decatur, along with House minority leader DuBose Porter (D-Dublin) and other Democrats. Their proposal would set a $25 limit on gifts by lobbyists "during any calendar year," according to the bill, HB 891.
Real reform is the kind that former state Rep. Charles Jenkins, Blairsville Democrat, pushed when he was in the House. He tried to cut gifts to legislators to zero. No dice, said Democrats when they were in control. Ditto for House Republicans under Richardson.
Where will Speaker Ralston come down on this? After all the talk about openness and transparency, when House Republicans caucused Tuesday, they closed the door to the media and other non-members. This is reform?
There will be no genuine ethics reform unless lobbyist gifts to legislators are prohibited. Period.
dmckee9613@aol.com
Post a Comment
Follow us on Twitter!