Over the last six weeks state legislatures and governors from Florida to Alaska have moved to tighten the rules on lobbyists, limiting gifts, curbing privately funded travel and even cutting off some communications during floor sessions.
Inspired by the U.S. Congress’ stiff new rules, and perhaps more importantly by autumn’s angry voters, newly sworn-in lawmakers in Alaska, New Mexico and New Jersey have weighed gift bans. Oregon put a ban in place for its legislators last month. Other states now demand more disclosure and some have expanded the waiting period between when a lawmaker or state official can become a lobbyist.
“It looks like there has been a lot of activity beginning this last session,” said E. Mark Braden, a lawyer in the Washington office of Baker Hostetler LLP. “It’s undoubtedly stimulated by all the press regarding the [Jack] Abramoff scandals and the [Randy “Duke”] Cunningham scandals.”
Expensive gifts were key issues in separate corruption cases involving Abramoff, a lobbyist, and Cunningham, a former California congressman. The cases last year rocked the nation and contributed to the Democratic takeover of Congress.
And it’s not just lawmakers who will have to pay for their own lunches. Governors in Ohio, New York and Florida have limited the gifts that officeholders and state employees can accept.
“I think it’s a national trend,” Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of NY lobbyist Michael Barrett said. “That’s fine as long as it is an even-handed approach.”
Some of the limits are more creative. Because of concern over instant messages from lobbyists while bills are debated, Maine has considered whether to ban text messages and e-mails while lawmakers are in session. If the ban is passed, Maine would join Colorado and West Virginia in controlling electronic missives sent to members.
The enthusiasm for tighter laws will eventually pass, Braden told The Examiner, and it is possible that some measures will be rolled back. Legislators passed a total gift ban when the Republicans took over Congress in 1994, he said, and that was eventually eased.
That does not mean that the changes will not take hold, he said. Inertia and public opinion are on the side of greater disclosure and limits on largess.
“Once you pass (laws), they never go away,” he said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Dee Ann Divis is the business editor of The Washington Examiner. Contact her at [email protected]
