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Friday, January 28, 2005

Ind. Law - One year cooling-off period before legislators switch sides?

"Panel OKs curbs on ex-legislators: House committee endorses bill to force former lawmakers to wait a year before taking lobbyist jobs," is the headline to a story today by Indianapolis Star political reporter Mary Beth Schneider. some quotes:

Legislators with their eyes on lobbying jobs would have to wait at least a year under a bill that passed a House committee Thursday.

It's believed to be the first time a bill imposing a cooling-off period for lawmakers has made it out of a legislative committee. The chances of the bill becoming law this year, though, are good. It has the backing of House Speaker Brian Bosma, R-Indianapolis, and Senate President Pro Tempore Robert D. Garton, R-Columbus.

Bosma has backed the measure, House Bill 1090, from the beginning, saying it's needed to improve the public image of the legislature.

Garton, though, has opposed the measure in the past as an unnecessary restriction of a person's right to earn a living and will only reluctantly support it this year. "The governor wants it, and I said I'd support him as much as I can," Garton said.

Gov. Mitch Daniels has, by executive order, placed a one-year ban on executive branch employees becoming lobbyists. That and other ethics reforms for the administrative branch are included in another measure, House Bill 1002.

Rep. David Frizzell, R-Indianapolis, sponsor of HB 1090, told the House Government and Regulatory Reform committee the bill is needed to change the perception of lawmakers. He noted that 28 states have such bans. Of those, 19 have one-year bans.

The Fort Wayne Journal Gazette has a story by Niki Kelly that begins:
Lawmakers would not be able to register as lobbyists for one year after their departure from the legislature under a bill that received initial approval Thursday.

House Bill 1090 provides a cooling-off period before legislators switch sides, something that has been occurring with more frequency in recent years. At least three former lawmakers who were defeated or gave up their seat in 2004 are lobbying this year.

Posted by Marcia Oddi on January 28, 2005 09:52 AM
Posted to Indiana Government | Indiana Law