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These gifts could be prohibited next year

May 12, 2013

In the days and weeks after the General Assembly adopted new ethics rules designed to limit lobbyists’ influence, several lawmakers accepted gifts that, beginning Jan. 1, will no longer be allowed. While legal when accepted, these gifts would violate new rules that cap gifts at $75, bar tickets to sporting events and greens fees, or limit lobbyist-funded travel.

Here are the expenditures from April that the new law might prohibit:

  • Rep. Matt Ramsey, R-Peachtree City. $83.84 for unspecified "ticket" on April 12 from lobbyist Hunter Edward Towns of Enterprise Leasing Co.
  • Sen. Ron Ramsey, D-Decatur. $70 Atlanta Braves ticket on April 29 from Braves' lobbyist Trip Martin.
  • Rep. John Carson, R-Marietta. $70 Atlanta Braves ticket on April 29 from Braves' lobbyist Trip Martin.
  • Rep. Tom Rice, R-Norcross. $70 Atlanta Braves ticket on April 29 from Braves' lobbyist Trip Martin.
  • Rep. Jay Roberts, R-Ocilla. $70 Atlanta Braves ticket on April 29 from Braves' lobbyist Trip Martin.
  • Rep. Jay Roberts, R-Ocilla. $70 Atlanta Braves ticket on April 1 from Braves' lobbyist Trip Martin.
  • Sen. Don Balfour, R-Snellville.$70 Atlanta Braves ticket on April 1 from Braves' lobbyist Trip Martin.
  • Sen. Tyler Harper, R-Ocilla. $70 Atlanta Braves ticket on April 1 from Braves' lobbyist Trip Martin.
  • Rep. Earl Ehrhart, R-Powder Springs. $56.50 for "charity golf" from AT&T lobbyist Kevin Curtin.
  • Rep. Amy Carter, R-Valdosta. $70 Atlanta Braves ticket on April 29 from Braves' lobbyist Trip Martin.
  • Rep. James Beverly, D-Macon. $270 in "tickets" on April 10 from AT&T lobbyist Terry Smith.
  • Rep. Amy Carter, R-Valdosta. $175 for five tickets on April 28 to the South Georgia Classic Golf Tournament from University System of Georgia lobbyist Philip Douglas Allen.
  • Rep. Butch Parrish, R-Swainsboro. $148.74 for lodging at a conference on April 24 from Hometown Health lobbyist James Lewis.
  • Sen. Jeff Mullis, R-Chickamauga. $85.78 for dinner on April 9 from Commonwealth Group Partners lobbyist Raymon White.
  • Rep. Ben Harbin, R-Evans. $83.84 for "ticket" on April 12 from Enterprise Leasing Co. lobbyist Hunter Edward Towns.
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