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Lobbiest Bill Gets Mixed Reactions

February 11, 1997
By: Rebecca Rausch
State Capital Bureau

There are mixed emotions around the state capitol concerning a bill that would make accepting gifts from lobbiests a crime.

Rebecca Rausch has the story from Jefferson City.

Story:
RunTime:
OutCue: SOC

The bill in front of the Senate Ethics Committee, would turn a current senate rule into law.

The current rule forbids senators to accept lobbiests' gifts of more than 50-dollars for one item or a total of 100-dollars per year.

However, senators face no penalty for going against the rule.

The proposed measure would hold legislators more accountable for violations.

The bill proposed is a three-step punishment system for disobeying the current rule.

First, they would be asked to pay back what was accepted from lobbiests.

If they choose not to do so, they would face a fine from the ethics commission.

If they still refuse, they could be charged with a class B misdemeanor.

The bill's sponsor, Senator Joe Maxwell, expressed that this is an issue that has been on the minds of the people.

Actuality: Joe Maxwell
RunTime:
OutCue: "is to make it a law."
Contents: "My greater reason for doing this is that's what the people expect--for it to be law. That's the only way to get passed this issue--is to make it a law." (at :20 side 1)

Harry Hill is a lobbiest for various groups including the Missouri Court Reporters Association and Northeast Missouri State University.

He does not think the reform will have any real effect on the way business is done in Jefferson City.

Actuality:Harry Hill
RunTime:
OutCue: "than it will on the legislature"
Contents: "I think reform is perhaps cosmetic but maybe it will be good for the public--probably will have more effect on the general public than it will in the legislature." (at :42 on side 2)

Columbia Democrat Ken Jacob says he will vote for such a measure because of the demand from the public.

But he agrees that the measure will not make much difference.

Actuality: Ken Jacob
RunTime:
OutCue: "to be spending time doing it."
Contents: "There are so many loopholes to all these things its almost ridiculous to be spending so much time doing it." (at 132 on side 1)

Curt Long is a lobbiest for Missouri businesses. Long says he favors the bill and doesn't think it will change the way he does his job.

Actuality: Curtis Long
RunTime:
OutCue: "my ability to do my job."
Contents: "I don't think it would hamper my ability to do my job."

(at 105 on side 1)

Despite the discussion of the effect the bill may have, Maxwell believes he has support for the measure and feels it needs to be law.

Actuality: Joe Maxwell
RunTime:
OutCue: "we do in Jefferson City"
Contents: "I want to make sure that we are accountable for what we do in Jefferson City." (at 189 on side 1)

Despite Maxwell's optimism, he's been the target of a lot of legislative ridicule for this bill over the past two years.

From Jefferson City, I'm Rebecca Rausch.