Sep 14, 2007
Next step in ethics reform
Bob Phillips (Editorial) - Charlotte Observer

At a recent national conference, North Carolina was celebrated for its progress in lobbying and ethics reform -- quite a contrast to just four years ago, when a national watchdog organization gave our state failing marks for its notoriously weak laws on lobbying and ethics! 
 
Our state has come a long way in a relatively short time -- but not unscathed, unfortunately. 
 
Former Speaker Jim Black, former state representative Michael Decker and former state lottery commissioner Kevin Geddings broke numerous lobbying, ethics and campaign laws, earning them each lengthy prison sentences. 
 
The scandal, which is still unfolding, has stained the reputation of North Carolina, once known as the "good government state." Restoring public trust will take time and continued commitment. 
 
The good news is that lawmakers have made remarkable progress in improving our state's lobbying and ethics laws. But there's more work to be done, especially in refining lobbyists' relationships with state legislators and policy makers. 
 
Lobbying is an honorable profession and a protected right for all citizens. Lobbying, by definition, is to persuade through information. But until this year, lobbying activities could legally include much more than sharing information. 
 
Our state allowed lobbyists to spend unlimited amounts of money on lawmakers without reporting a penny. Lobbyists could serve as candidates' campaign treasurers and provide no-interest loans to elected officials. As we now know, this culture didn't serve the public's interest. 
 
It's important to note that legislators passed laws tightening rules, closing reporting loopholes and restricting gifts before the current scandals erupted in Raleigh. 
 
While lobbyists can no longer spend freely in a direct way on those they seek to influence, they can still provide a perk that's far more important than wining and dining. 
 
Lobbyists can still raise unlimited amounts of campaign money for candidates -- the very officials they'll be seeking to influence. If we agree that lobbyists should not provide direct gifts, loans and other perks to legislators, we also should be able to agree that it's unhealthy to allow unlimited campaign fundraising. 
 
Legislators have resisted efforts to close this loophole. Some say it would be unenforceable or even unconstitutional. Yet South Carolina has had such a law for more than 15 years -- unchallenged and enforceable. Connecticut is implementing a similar law in January. Some other states have lobbying fundraising regulations. 
 
Indeed, N.C. lawmakers passed a law last year forbidding lobbyists to personally contribute money and physically collect and deliver campaign checks to candidates. These restrictions, however, don't solve the problem. Lobbyists are still able to help raise big money for candidates by arranging for others to make contributions. 
 
Anyone who raises big money has great value to a candidate. Countless stories float around the legislative building of lobbyists offering legislators fundraising help or lawmakers putting the squeeze on lobbyists to raise them money. 
 
Lawmakers need to address this culture in 2008. They should either ban or limit how much money lobbyists can raise for the people they seek to influence. They should do it before the season of big fundraising begins next summer and fall.