COLUMBUS -- Voters in the July 31 Republican primary will get the chance to say whether the state should adopt a $100 cap on the gifts lobbyists can give to lawmakers as the fight over ethics reform threatens to boil over within the GOP.
The Georgia Republican Party's executive committee Friday at the state convention approved the ballot question unanimously, two members of the committee who were not authorized to discuss the vote told the newspaper.
The ballot question, which does not have the force of law, asks if the state should end "unlimited spending" by enacting a $100 cap.
Ethics has become an increasingly important issue to grassroots Republicans who have gathered here for their two-day convention. The more than 2,000 delegates could also this weekend vote on creating an official party position in favor of tightening lobbyist rules.
Sen. Josh McKoon, R-Columbus, has championed caps in the General Assembly, a position leadership in the House and Senate have thus far opposed. McKoon said if a ballot question goes before voters, it will show "how strongly the base of the Republican Party feels about comprehensive ethics reform."
Tea Party organizer Debbie Dooley, who has also called for ethics reform, said lawmakers will need to pay attention to the outcome.
"I think a lot of legislators are going to be surprised by the overwhelming support for caps on lobbyist gifts," Dooley said.
But House Speaker David Ralston, R-Blue Ridge, said the ballot question is superfluous and designed to create an obvious response.
"Are they going to ask them if they love their mother?" Ralston told the AJC after addressing the convention. "How can people not vote for that?"
Dividing the party
In his speech, Ralston took a veiled shot at McKoon and those who would support his efforts.
"We must remember there are those around us who seek nothing less than to divide us," Ralston said.
He went on to accuse this unnamed person or group of aligning themselves "with media elites and liberal special interest groups."
Ralston later would not say his comments were directed at McKoon, but he said groups like Common Cause Georgia and GeorgiaWatch, both of which have joined with the Tea Party to push ethics reform, were not out to help Republicans.
"They are not interested in seeing a Republican agenda," Ralston said.
Delegates to the state convention, however, said they'd support the effort to limit lobbyist influence.
"It would be a good idea and long past time," said Muscogee County delegate Stephen Danley.
Unchecked spending, he said, "allows people to buy influence or have the appearance of buying influence."
Capping gifts won't stop influence peddling and it won't make government better, said Catherine Bernard, a Laurens County delegate.
"It allows people to act like they're getting involved," Bernard said.
The transparency argument
Bernard said she would support caps as well as transparency. Ralston and other top Republicans in the General Assembly, believe caps lead to "underground" lobbying or scheming to get around the caps.
Instead, they say, disclosing every penny spent is a better idea, as voters can see who is spending what and which lawmaker is accepting what.
Ralston made that point to reporters Friday. If a hard cap on lobbying is created, he said, the lobbying will be done secretly, without disclosure.
"The question should be do you want to know who's lobbying on what issue?" he said.
The AJC reported extensively on lobbying during the legislative session and found there was much about the system that was not transparent now, including unreported meals and trips. The AJC also reported how former state officials use their past service to score top lobbying jobs and current executive branch officials accept gifts in spite of a ban instituted by the governor.
But Ralston said the implication from those pushing the issue is not accurate.
"There’s been some continuing chatter, and you know, every once in a while I think that part of my job as Speaker is to remind people that I represent a caucus that are basically good people doing good jobs," he said. "The inference by some on this issue suggests otherwise."
The Georgia Alliance for Ethics Reform, a bipartisan coalition of public interests groups, including Tea Party groups, Common Cause Georgia and GeorgiaWatch, has pushed for a cap the past two legislative sessions.
Common Cause Georgia Executive Director William Perry called the news of a Republican ballot question “a great step in the right direction.” A poll commissioned by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution in December showed 72 percent of Georgia voters favored limits on lobbyists’ spending, with even stronger support among Republicans polled.
Perry said a referendum could be the proof his coalition needs to convince legislators to get on board with the ban.
“If this makes it on the ballot and it’s real votes, then they can’t dispute it. They can’t dispute the sentiment of their party and their voters,” he said. “I’m beside myself excited about it. I’m hopeful that the Democrats will follow suit.”
Staff writer Chris Joyner contributed to this report.
About the Author
