At the same time, it's a repulsive intrusion on our constitutionally guaranteed right of privacy. |
I call it the BlackBerry prayer. You know, your head is bowed and your hands are in your lap. |
I can't. All of my attorneys have said that if we're going to spend a dime to build goodwill with a legislator, then I've got to back away from it. |
If you think it's been bad in the past, you wait and see what the parties start doing. Because now the only time a lobbyist can actually socialize, buy a drink, have a drink where the member's not picking it up is at campaign fundraisers. |
The Legislature simply went far beyond this prohibition, though, cutting deeply into our ability to communicate for our clients and invading the privacy of people who simply want their representatives to listen to them. |
This law is so bad and it is riddled with holes. |
We don't have any objection to a ban being imposed on lobbyists buying food, beverages or other gifts for lawmakers and their staff. The Legislature simply went far beyond this prohibition, though, cutting deeply into our ability to communicate for our clients and invading the privacy of people who simply want their representatives to listen to them. |
We have absolutely no problem with the ban on gifts. But we don't see any reason in the world why anyone should know what kind of money any of us is making. |
We've told them from the beginning that if disclosure of fees was in this bill they passed, we would probably sue. And here we are. |