All hail Georgia’s incorruptible state Legislature
Georgians ought to take immense pride in the fact that their state legislators possess more honesty and integrity than those of almost any state in the country.
Or so we’ve been told.
In most other states, as well as in Congress, weak-willed legislators have found it necessary to protect themselves from temptation by limiting or outright banning gifts from lobbyists. Those out-of-state legislators apparently fear that without a limit or ban, they might start to think too favorably of a lobbyist who gives them, say, an all-expense-paid trip to Europe, or sky-box seats to a football game, or free food, golf and lodging at a resort, or a $200 night on the town at a fancy restaurant.
Down in Florida, for example, the only gifts that state legislators allow themselves to take are floral arrangements or similar “celebratory items” to mark the opening day of an annual legislative session. Legislators in South Carolina are equally prone to temptation, which is why the law makes it illegal for lobbyists to give them “(1) lodging; (2) transportation; (3) entertainment; (4) food, meals, beverages, money, or any other thing of value…”
But in the Georgia General Assembly, where honor and virtue run as pure and clear as a north Georgia mountain spring, legislators put no limit whatsoever on the value of gifts they can legally accept from lobbyists. They rest comfortably in the knowledge that no matter how ardently they are plied with liquor, meals, golf outings, airplane travel and sports and entertainment tickets, among other things, they cannot be dissuaded from deciding issues purely on their merits.
As a result, their attitude is “bring it on! … bring it ALL on!” They are so confident in their ability to stay unbought and unbossed that they are just one of three state legislatures in the entire country with neither a ban or restriction on lobbyists gifts.
Doesn’t that just make you swell up with pride?
Me, I’m not convinced. And neither is state Sen. Josh McKoon, a Republican from Columbu. This week, McKoon and nine fellow Republican senators introduced an ethics-reform bill that would put a $100 limit on the value of gifts that legislators can accept from lobbyists.
“There has got to be a point where we draw a line in the sand and say ‘no more’,” McKoon said in a Monday press conference, calling it “an important first step to restoring public trust.”
The large number of Republicans willing to co-sponsor the bill in the Senate stands in stark contrast to the Georgia House, where Speaker David Ralston has in effect proclaimed such legislation an unnecessary insult to his chamber’s vaunted integrity. And if the bill can be passed in the Senate, it adds to the political pressure on House leadership to pass legislation supported overwhelmingly by the voters of Georgia.
Unfortunately, Senate Democrats have so far refused to endorse McKoon’s effort, arguing that the legislation is not strong enough. According to Senate Minority Leader Steve Henson, “it is apparent after looking at this legislation that they have given up on doing anything substantive. We need to create real change not just change how people file reports and manipulate the system.”
That criticism is unjustified, and in fact it comes across as an effort by Senate Democrats to gain partisan advantage on an issue in which partisan politics should play no role. Senate Bill 391, introduced by McKoon, would go a long way toward protecting Georgia legislators from temptations that they claim not to feel, and conscientious senators and representatives of both parties should embrace it.
———————
Two other points, one related and one not:
– On the ethics front, go read Jim Walls’ report at Atlanta Unfiltered on state Sen. Don Balfour, who as chairman of the Senate Rules Committee is one of the most powerful people under the Gold Dome. Jim lays out pretty clearly how Balfour has egregiously abused the legislative per diem and expense systems.
– For those interested, I’ll be doing my annual “Real State of the Union” address Friday, Feb. 10 at Seven Stages theater in Little Five Points. Reception at 7 p.m., speechifying begins at 7:30. Also appearing will be the ever-witty Andisheh Nouraee, co-auther of the well-received “Americapedia: Taking the Dumb Out of Freedom.”
This is the 10th annual speech, and it’s always a full house, so come early. First come, first seated.
– Jay Bookman
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© 2012 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
257 comments Add your comment
Charlie H
February 8th, 2012
9:47 am
1) The pop up ad for Christian Brothers Automotive is making it almost impossible to type this. So, kudos to your advertiser for getting me to know their name.
2) Back to topic, I think your analysis must be mistaken. All we heard at the chamber’s eggs and issues was making sure Georgia was competitive with other states, and we would be using them as our benchmarks of where we need to be. So, we must be competitive with our ethics too, right? Right?
Brosephus
February 8th, 2012
9:48 am
Jay
You mean to tell me you DON’T trust those highly moral, G*d fearing, purpose life driven GOP legislators?
TaxPayer
February 8th, 2012
9:49 am
Jay,
You should Youtube that Real State of the Union thingie and share it with those of us that cannot make it.
N-GA
February 8th, 2012
9:52 am
Patronage and nepotism are alive and well at all levels of government in this state. From small towns to big cities, rich counties to poor counties, it is more about who you know, who is your relative, whose campaign did you support. Even if the Legislature adopts rules regarding contributions, enforcement will likely be lax…and the voters won’t voice their outrage at the ballot box.
Steve - USA (I support "None Of The Above")
February 8th, 2012
9:53 am
Jay,
After your “Real State of the Union” will your friend “jm” give the Republican response?
Hey…wait a second….does that mean POTUS gave us the “UnReal State of the Union”?
Joe Hussein Mama
February 8th, 2012
9:55 am
I don’t think that our state legislators should be accepting gifts of ANY value whatsoever. And if a lobbyist wants to buy a legislator a meal, I think that a cap of ten bucks is sufficient. A Wendy’s Value Meal is plenty, and besides, a fast-food joint’s going to get them out of there faster than a snooty resto with a maitre-d.
Besides that legislator needs to get back to the Gold Dome and DO SOME WORK, not suck up free lobbyist food.
georgia resident
February 8th, 2012
9:56 am
Maybe the lobbyists have kept us from doing much of anything at all to improve Georgia’s biggest issues: transportation, water, and education. The legislators are spending too much time enriching themselves and not enough time getting anything done.
ty webb
February 8th, 2012
9:56 am
so GA’s “whores” are higher priced?
Jefferson
February 8th, 2012
9:57 am
I say prison time for any politician that take any gift, Micky’s Ds included. Let them stand on their own 2 feet.
TaxPayer
February 8th, 2012
9:58 am
Send those Georgia Republicans snuggies for Christmas so they can dress the part of Pigs in a Blanket.
Keep Up the Good Fight!
February 8th, 2012
9:59 am
Somewhat shocked that our legislators are above corruption and temptation but other government employees, say at the Secretary of State’s office, are not and they have gift limitations and prohibitions imposed by state ethics policies…….. It shows the high quality of character and person that rises to become a legislator.
Don't Forget
February 8th, 2012
10:00 am
If Henson thinks the reforms don’t go far enough he should propose legislation that does. Otherwise he is simply defending the status quo.
Steve - USA (I support "None Of The Above")
February 8th, 2012
10:02 am
I have a stupid question. What does the $100 limit really mean? $100 a day, week, month, year, lifetime? Is that from any one person or company. You could get a lot of $100 gifts from different people at the same company.
Also the Republican Senate said from lobbyists, what about non-lobbyists?
Thanks in advance.
USinUK
February 8th, 2012
10:02 am
per·qui·site /ˈpɜrkwəzɪt/ Show Spelled[pur-kwuh-zit] Show IPA
noun
1. an incidental payment, benefit, privilege, or advantage over and above regular income, salary, or wages: .
2. a gratuity or tip.
3. something demanded or due as a particular privilege: homage that was once the perquisite of royalty.
It’s good to be the king (or, at least, an elected official)
Guy Incognito
February 8th, 2012
10:03 am
Wall Drug has purchased the Legislature in SD! Everybody got a free Corn-Walled vacation home
ByteMe
February 8th, 2012
10:04 am
I’ll be doing my annual “Real State of the Union” address Friday, Feb. 10
Can we yell out “YOU LIE!” at some random point during the speech just to keep it real?
Paul
February 8th, 2012
10:05 am
“All hail Georgia’s incorruptible state Legislature”
Been taking lessons from Orvis White?
This piece needs to go in your newspaper column, Jay.
ByteMe
February 8th, 2012
10:05 am
All we heard at the chamber’s eggs and issues
Paid for by lobbyists. Go figure you didn’t hear anything about ethics there.
Road Scholar
February 8th, 2012
10:06 am
Jay: “Columbu”? Is that the name of Newt’s village on the moon?
Sorry Mr Ralston if you are insulted, but if there are no abuses going on, a strong ethics law won’t affect the legislators, as you contend.
Wendy’s, Mickey D’s, and…The Varsity! Now there is a place that will make you move quickly…esp at night. Remember those dogs only “bark” at night!
Adam
February 8th, 2012
10:07 am
Jay: I don’t suppose there is video of your speech, either live or not, that will be posted online?
Brosephus
February 8th, 2012
10:08 am
I still have yet to receive a response from the emails I sent out last time ethics was brought up here. Makes me think that those in charge don’t care for my opinion AND my vote. I’m like Santa Claus because I’m making my list and checking it twice before Nov.
AmVet - “A lot of so-called conservatives don’t know what the word means." ~Barry Goldwater
February 8th, 2012
10:08 am
Guy, I went there a couple of years ago, and found it mildly amusing and wildly tacky, all at the same time. But as it is near the main entrance to the incredible Badlands National Park, it was worth a stop.
Georgia’s GOP is now little more than an imperious, self-serving, hyper-hypocritical and dysfunctional hogfest.
And now would be a good time for a barbeque…
Joe Hussein Mama
February 8th, 2012
10:09 am
The problem here is that our state legislators will get *rewarded* for failing to pass this bill. If they defeat it, then they get more gifts.
If they were to instead receive, say, a hundred lashes in public from a randomly-selected pizzed-off Georgia citizen for failing to pass the bill, then I believe the proper incentive and proper message would be in place.
JOE Cool-Republicans Call Him MESSIAH, I Just Call Him President
February 8th, 2012
10:15 am
The sad part is the CONs on here that are against it, would be the same ones to vote them back in.
Steve - USA (I support "None Of The Above")
February 8th, 2012
10:18 am
Joe Cool,
So we can count on you not to vote for the Senate Democrats?
Jefferson
February 8th, 2012
10:19 am
There was a time when politicians had Bar-b-ques to bribe voters for votes, now the politicans have $1000 a plate fund raisers for their votes to be bought. Abe warned us of this. (A different republican)
Terrence
February 8th, 2012
10:19 am
And on a national scale.
— The roar of the revolving door. In his Monday announcement, Messina bragged about how the White House has enacted “sweeping” reforms to “close the revolving door between government and lobbyists.” In truth, the administration has widened the carousel and removed the brakes. The Obama-cheerleading Fishwrap of Record (The New York Times) itself identified at least 15 bundlers “involved in lobbying for Washington consulting shops or private companies.”
Moreover, “at least 68 of 350 Obama bundlers for the 2012 election or their spouses have served in the administration in some capacity; at least 250 of the bundlers visited the White House, and another 30 have ties to companies that conduct business with federal agencies or hope to do so in the future,” according to a recent iWatch News report.
http://frontpagemag.com/2012/02/08/obama-bundlers-gone-wild/
St Simons - we're on Island time
February 8th, 2012
10:20 am
David Ralston – “such legislation an unnecessary insult to his chamber’s
vaunted integriteh”
three things –
-the Ga Republicans have officially jumped the shark
-does vaunted integriteh include this racist-birther-wonder down
here named Mark Hatfield – if so, I need some phone numbers
-does Ralston & Karen Handel have the same PR person?
Brosephus
February 8th, 2012
10:20 am
Joe Cool
You know how it’s rationalized. It’s the “my representative does not do that type of thing. It’s the other one’s who do that stuff” mentality at play here. It’s pretty effed up, though, when the majority of the state all thinks the same thing.
Butch Cassidy
February 8th, 2012
10:20 am
I guess the “We’re already ethical on our own” arguement is the same as the ” we shouldn’t have to pay taxes to keep the country going. I’m in a much better position to decide how to best use my money”
JOE Cool-Republicans Call Him MESSIAH, I Just Call Him President
February 8th, 2012
10:21 am
Steve – USA (I support “None Of The Above”)
February 8th, 2012
10:18 am
Whoever is willing to tackle the issue. R or D
Steve - USA (I support "None Of The Above")
February 8th, 2012
10:22 am
Joe Cool,
Good man!
That’s 4 and I am out the door!
JF McNamara
February 8th, 2012
10:25 am
Can you YouTube the video and post it here on your blog?
JOE Cool-Republicans Call Him MESSIAH, I Just Call Him President
February 8th, 2012
10:25 am
Brosephus
February 8th, 2012
10:20 am
Right….”my rep. isnt like that”, yet their azzes arent standing up to co-author the bill, then turn a blind eye and vote for them again and 4 years later we still hear talking about it.
USinUK
February 8th, 2012
10:27 am
who would jeebus bribe?
Union
February 8th, 2012
10:27 am
Charlie H
February 8th, 2012
9:47 am
1) The pop up ad for Christian Brothers Automotive is making it almost impossible to type this. So, kudos to your advertiser for getting me to know their name.
had the same issue.. try google chrome..
Look before I leap...
February 8th, 2012
10:28 am
@JHM
“If they were to instead receive, say, a hundred lashes in public from a randomly-selected pizzed-off Georgia citizen for failing to pass the bill, ”
Randomly selected hell! I’d pay for the privilege.
kayaker 71
February 8th, 2012
10:29 am
Terrance,10:19,
Bookman does tend to cherry pick on occasion.
Look before I leap...
February 8th, 2012
10:29 am
Firefox guys! best popup blocking s/w available.
Tried Google Chrome, major issues with multiple panes.
F. Sinkwich
February 8th, 2012
10:30 am
How much money would it cost to successfully lobby for Milton County?
Where can I contribute?
Joe Hussein Mama
February 8th, 2012
10:31 am
LB4IL — “Randomly selected hell! I’d pay for the privilege.”
And here’s our opportunity to address some of our state’s budget woes!
AmVet - “A lot of so-called conservatives don’t know what the word means." ~Barry Goldwater
February 8th, 2012
10:31 am
I find it ironic that Indiana is also one of the three states that won’t allow Sunday alcohol sales.
That place is apparently as screwed up as the Peach State…
Keep Up the Good Fight!
February 8th, 2012
10:31 am
Milton County…..where the ilk herds run free!
AmVet - “A lot of so-called conservatives don’t know what the word means." ~Barry Goldwater
February 8th, 2012
10:35 am
Unsolicited browser advice.
Internet Explorer, though not the absolute piece of garbage it used to be, is still the very worst option out there.
Firefox is overall, the best. And has been for a long time.
Chrome is slightly faster, but there are some drawbacks to it as well.
Opera, in the day, was pretty slick, but now is little more than an anachronism.
Safari? Unless you’re running a Mac, who knows or cares…
Look before I leap...
February 8th, 2012
10:37 am
@JHM
Amen. They’d raise a fair sum of money methinks.
Even if it was only a dunking booth.
martin the calvinist
February 8th, 2012
10:39 am
were you writing this type of article 12 years ago when the Democrats had control of both the governor ship and both houses and the almighty Charles Walker (DEMOCRAT) was state senate majority leader building up ethics violations and other criminal charges. We could have had ethics reform a full decade ago, but there’s no problem when Democrats rule the roost.
martin the calvinist
February 8th, 2012
10:40 am
not that I’m against ethics reform, politics on all levels are corrupt and could use some cleaning up!
JOE Cool-Republicans Call Him MESSIAH, I Just Call Him President
February 8th, 2012
10:43 am
Wonder where Jm is this am…..his boy Mittens got swept.
ty webb
February 8th, 2012
10:43 am
Yeah, I’d like to see a video of Jay’s “speech” too…seeing him carry democrat’s water in person, albeit on video, would be so much more entertaining then reading his written word.
Brosephus
February 8th, 2012
10:44 am
We could have had ethics reform a full decade ago, but there’s no problem when Democrats rule the roost.
We COULD have ethics reform NOW, but there apparently is no rush now that the GOP rules the state.