Legislators, too, ought to wait before lobbying

It has never been clear why state legislators exempted themselves from laws that prevent other state officials from lobbying the Legislature after they leave office.

Well, that's not exactly true.

It's never been clear because no self- respecting legislator has ever had the courage to publicly concede that it's in his or her self- interest to be exempt from the restriction.

Fortunately, things are changing. The state Assembly has passed by an overwhelming 75-22 margin legislation prohibiting state lawmakers from taking jobs as lobbyists for at least a year after leaving office. The ban is sponsored by Rep. Stephen J. Freese (R-Hazel Green).

For some time, a one-year waiting period has been imposed on those whom the statutes refer to as "state public officials." But wait. The same statutes go on: "Except in the case where the state public office formerly held was that of a legislator. . . . "

Today, as many as 23 former legislators two of them former governors, who also served in the Legislature are actively lobbying the Legislature and, in some cases, their former colleagues.

Admittedly, not all began lobbying immediately after leaving office. But neither did any have to complete the same waiting period required of, say, a gubernatorial appointee or a high-ranking official of the University of Wisconsin System.

However, two recently resigned in midterm to accept positions as lobbyists.

Freese rightly says it's time to "stop this revolving door" through which lawmakers re-enter the Capitol as well-paid lobbyists. One opponent says lawmakers should stop "beating up on ourselves." But that's the kind of thinking that diminished public confidence in elective politics in the first place.

Copyright 1995
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved.