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Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Legislative Benefits - More on "Transparency bills get no respect"
The Fort Wayne Journal Gazette has an editorial today on the new lobbying career of former state Senate leader Robert Meeks. A quote:
Senate Bill 15, sponsored by Sen. Patricia Miller, R-Indianapolis, would ensure that the influence of former lawmakers would at least be tempered. It would establish a one-year limit before a legislator could lobby before the General Assembly.Its chances for passage, sadly, are poor. It’s been assigned to the Rules Committee, where legislation frequently goes to die.
Meeks, a LaGrange Republican, joined Boyle & Associates within weeks of stepping down from his powerful Senate post. The firm is directed by a close associate of former Senate President Pro Tem Robert Garton.
Meeks has always demonstrated great integrity as a public servant, and this page doesn’t doubt that he would continue to do the same as lobbyist. The lobby registration form he filed discloses multiple issues he might be lobbying on, including the budget, economic development, property taxes and alcoholic beverages. In the 2008 session, his new employer lobbied on behalf of Indiana Public Broadcasting, Harrah’s and Central Indiana Ethanol.
Meeks joined an ever-growing collection of lawmakers-turned-lobbyists: John Gregg, Thomas Fruechtenicht, Matt Whetstone, Michael Smith, Mike Phillips, Sam Turpin, Pat Kiely, Robert Kuzman and Paul Mannweiler, among others.
“Again, it’s just one more reason to do something this year,” said Julia Vaughn, policy director for Indiana Common Cause.
Posted by Marcia Oddi on January 28, 2009 09:41 AM
Posted to Legislative Benefits