Hobbling the lobbyists
The General Assembly began its session in January with at least one certainty: Voters were demanding an end to the era of unlimited gifts from lobbyists. But the House and the Senate have competing visions: Should lobbyist gifts be limited to $100 or banned outright? What exceptions should apply? Each house is suggesting a different approach.
House Bill 142
What it does
Bans gifts from lobbyists to public officials. Such gifts include meals, travel, golf, football tickets and more. Passed 164-4 Monday.
Exceptions
• Meals or receptions serving the entire Legislature, the full House or Senate , a whole committee or some other established group, such as a party caucus or local delegation.
• Payment for “actual and reasonable” travel expenses (but not airfare) if the travel relates to a legislator’s official duties.
• While on that travel, payment for food and drink for legislators, their staff members and their spouses.
• Lobbyists for state agencies no longer have to disclose what they spend on legislators.
Comment: "It will let us go back home and look our neighbors in the eye and say we did the right thing." House Speaker David Ralston
Senate Resolution 1
What it does
Amends the Senate’s rules so that no senator may accept a gift valued at more than $100 from a lobbyist or group of lobbyists. A “gift” is “anything of economic value for which no consideration is given.” Adopted Jan. 14, the first day of the legislative session.
Exceptions
• Awards, plaques, certificates or mementos recognizing the senator’s service.
• Food, drink and events for the entire General Assembly, the full Senate, or a whole committee or some other established group, such as a party caucus or local delegation.
• Payment for “actual and reasonable” expenses for admission, registration, food, drink, travel and lodging for events related to the senator’s official duties.
• When a member’s acceptance of a gift is challenged by the Senate Ethics Committee, the committee will take no action if the gift is returned within 30 days.
Comment: "Today is the day we begin to keep faith with people in Georgia." Sen. Josh McKoon, R-Columbus, upon passage of the Senate rule.
Lobbyists get a 91 percent break
Under the bill passed by the House, people who volunteer to lobby for an organization must register as lobbyists. It costs $300 per year to register, plus $20 for an ID card. HB 142 reduces that cost to $25 and says unpaid lobbyists who spend no money on legislators needn’t file lobbyist disclosures. Volunteers spending no more than five days annually at the Capitol don’t have to register. Citizen activists who spend a lot of time at the General Assembly say the bill penalizes them for being activists.
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