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Today's Poll!Lawmaker: Legislators should never become lobbyists
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
State Sen. John Lamping, R-Ladue, has an idea for future politicians to ponder: If you ever serve in the Legislature, you’re prohibited from becoming a lobbyist.
For a number of years, politicians and some consumer-oriented groups have complained about lawmakers who finish their elected duties, then come back to Missouri's Capitol as paid lobbyists for special interest groups.
Lamping had pre-filed a bill to require lawmakers to wait two years after leaving office, before they could begin lobbying. But, at Tuesday’s meeting of the Senate’s Rules, Joint Rules, Resolutions and Ethics Committee, Lamping announced he’d thought about his idea some more.
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Comments
Paroquet 4 months, 2 weeks ago
This has been too long coming. The conviviality of ex-legislators with their replacements is unconscionable in a free society. Also, it encourages legislators to shirk their vows and commitments to Missouri's voters, by giving more interest and attention to /one/ interest in hopes of future employment; the lobby pays the candidate to deliver the message that it wants voters to hear and has an expectation of a return. Just as was recently said by one elected official here "If I have a choice to take a call from a person who donated $100, and one that funneled in thousands, whose call do you think I'm going to take?"
JCLifer 4 months, 2 weeks ago
Lawmakers making laws to control their own behavior? Crazy to think that might every happen. They can't even comply with universally-understood rules and common decency and courtesy about not smoking in a public building.
It is a good idea, but it better have lots of sharp teeth and a big heavy hammer for offenders. The money and the glory and the power are all too attractive to these egotistical airheads.
To make it work, the salaries need to be reduced, the benetifs cut, and the idea of "honorable public service" needs to be revisited.
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