Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Bill would ban lobbyists' gifts, stop revolving door

A bill offered by Rep. Brian Yates, R-Lee's Summit, and Rep. Jake Zimmerman, D-Olivette, would ban gifts from lobbyists and prevent legislators from becoming lobbyists until they have been out of office for at least a year.

If this bill ever comes up for argument, I expect we will hear the same tired refrain legislators give us about how they can't be bought for a meal. That self-serving nonsense does not take into consideration the added access these meals and gifts give lobbyists, but it also doesn't explain one thing- If the special interests were not getting their money's worth from these gifts, why would they keep making them, especially with the economy the way it is these days?

This bill should come before a vote of the full House and Senate. Let's hope the leaders of those bodies, including Speaker of the House Ron Richard, R-Joplin, allow this to happen and don't see to it that the bill is bottled up in committee.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thanks Randy.......we are in such need of stronger ethics legislation and the need to get the word out about such legislation.

Rep. Zimmerman(not my Representative) is showing great courage in introducing this legislation as he has with other legislation he has sponsored.

Anonymous said...

Uh huh. And the 3 or 4 reps standing with them show a lot of support for this bill. Riiight.