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Sunday, December 28, 2008

Legislative Benefits - Still more on: "Miller to seek lobbying curbs again"

Updating this ILB entry from Dec. 7, this item in the Indianapolis Star's "Behind Closed Doors" column this Sunday:

Lobbying legislation on tap

Momentum is building behind legislation that would require a one-year cooling-off period for lawmakers who want to take a job as a lobbyist.

Sen. Patricia L. Miller, R-Indianapolis, introduced such a bill earlier this month, and House Minority Leader Brian Bosma, R-Indianapolis, announced last week he plans to introduce similar legislation.

Bosma has backed similar legislation before, but it has failed to pass out of committee.

"More than half of the states have cooling-off periods," Bosma said. "The time has come for the General Assembly to embrace this same transparency."

The House in recent years has seen a handful of lawmakers leave the chamber for lobbying jobs.

Former Reps. Matt Whetstone, R-Brownsburg, and Robert Kuzman, D-Crown Point, did so before the 2008 session, as did former Rep. Luke Messer, R-Shelbyville, before the 2007 session.

Bosma called the cooling-off period "an important step in establishing more trust between Hoosier voters and their government."

Posted by Marcia Oddi on December 28, 2008 01:27 PM
Posted to Legislative Benefits