States across the country are moving to restrict a lobbyists’ ability to provide gifts to public officials, if not outright ban it. Missouri has a proposal before the legislature and California has proposed a ban as well. President Obama signed Executive Orders in his first days of office relating to ethics and transparency for government officials in his administration.
Connecticut is ahead of the curve in its regulation of lobbying activities. The beginnings of the statute that became the Ethics Code were born in 1977 and flushed out in 1991 when the definitions of the term lobbyist were put into law. Although there have been revisions, advisory opinions and regulatory machinations to alter and interpret the statute, the intent remains the same – transparency of government.
Many have argued against regulatory oversight and intrusion into the financial records of companies doing business with the state. And well they should argue – there must be a push back to ensure that trade secrets are not the target of government review and publication. However, an open government provides a level playing field for all those who seek to influence policy makers.
Is there room to improve the current rules in Connecticut that regulate the interactions between lobbyists and public officials? Absolutely! Has the pendulum swung too far toward complicated over-regulation? Perhaps. But compared to states around the nation, Connecticut continues to be a model.
Tags: ethics
