Capitol Updates

By Jack

March 10, 2006 09:10 AM | Link to this

I certainly believe that Lawmakers should be held to the same standards Government employees are held. As a retired civil service employee,I could not even accept a letter opener from a lobbiest or contractor, because of the perception that any gift would imply favoritism or influence decisions … Yes, yes,yes The Georgia Legislature should ban gifts of money and services from lobbists and others.. There is no doubt in the public perception that these gifts large and small do give favored treatment and influence decisions !

By RWH

March 10, 2006 10:11 AM | Link to this

Gifts are easy and they pose a conflict of interest because even at $50.00 that is risky. When you are down on your luck; one might say one thing and do another. What you take can come back and hurt you just as bad if you steal and get caught. There is this saying that; if you take something from someone, that person return in time…around election; and asked for a deed of good jester or it might be that, that person is willing to not take no for an answer. Then it has you by your career because that person can fix things that will get out..right into the news that often destroys one career and most that person life. Looking back, it has happen to a lot of state officials and even now, the former Mayor Campbell is experiencing these so called gifts ranging from $50.00 to perhaps millions. Gifts are another form of getting you to play the game; but you must be on the winning side! You can’t play on the other team either, you have to play with the winning team everytime. It cost to stay in the arena of doing for others as they have did for you. Just like our Congressmen..if they do nothing but set that example…everyone official needs to follow it!

By J.T.

March 10, 2006 11:40 AM | Link to this

Gifts?

Gifts?

Let’s call them exactly what they are:

Bribes.

I am completely against “gifts” from lobbyists at both the state and federal level.

Government is “by the people for the people,” not by the group or by the corporation.

Part of the reason there are so many American firms outsourcing their staff to other countries is because corporate lobbyists did their job and bribed and cajoled Congressmen, Senators, and the Presidents over the course of years into letting it happen. They argue that it helps American corporations and thus helps the people of America. Last I looked, there were 700 + Billionaires now calling the U.S. home, and CEOs and corporate executives are giving themselves record high bonuses, salary packages and golden parachutes that are completely untouchable in bankruptcy. What about the employees? They don’t get that same benefit of “untouchable” pensions…

Lobbyists are helping in the demise of the United States being a democracy/republic and working hard to create two classes: the super rich and a working class.

Lobbying, not just gifts from them, should be outlawed. It will never happen, because the politicians love receiving all those bribes (oh, sorry, they call them perks).

By Logan Killiway

March 10, 2006 02:46 PM | Link to this

Carlos! How dare ask such a question. Of course lawmakers should be allowed to accept gifts. They get paid peanuts to represent us in Atlanta, subjected to hours and hours of boring, mindless meetings. The least we could do is allow them free meals from some poultry lobbyist. You should be ashamed of yourself. - Logan

By Samantha

March 10, 2006 03:15 PM | Link to this

I’ll be more concerned about the PERCEPTION (can anyone point to a case where a lobbyist has actually bought off a lawmaker with gifts??) of influence after we deal with a more pressing problem: Industry representatives giving thousands upon thousands of dollars to candidates who regulate them - and that’s not the Georgia General Assembly, that’s the Georgia Insurance Commissioner. The most blatant example of the fox watching the hen house…

By MrLiberty

March 20, 2006 02:28 PM | Link to this

The fundamental problem is not how much these clowns get from lobbyists, it is how much power our elected leaders have over the future course of the economy and the monies they are able to steal from us in taxes. If there were no bottomless pit of tax money for them to steal (no income tax for instance) then there would be no largess to pass on to these special constituents.

Only the Libertarian Party is working to reduce government size to the point where all of us keep what is ours and the government has little or nothing to buy off their friends with. Count on the Republicans and Democrats both to favor business as usual.

Laws won’t help. Ethics reform wont help. So long as government has the power, the power will be bought and sold - count on it.

Vote Republican or Democrat and the problems will continue - guaranteed.

By kenneth

March 23, 2006 12:51 PM | Link to this

Will someone please explain to me how fair Senate Bill 382 (Child Support) is? This beill is geared toward fathers - what about the deadbeat MOTHERS who refuse to abide by a court-order to pay child support and medical expenses? My ex-wife is $10,750 plus behind in payments and has quit her job to keep from paying, and is now pregnant with another child whose father is unknown. I cannot even take out an Abandonment Warrant against her because I was told that it will not be prosecuted - other cases are more important. I think that, because the non-custodial parent is a FEMALE, nobody is willing to do anything.