Originally published February 19, 2010 at 6:14 a.m., updated February 19, 2010 at 6:14 a.m.
JEFFERSON CITY - As debate on ethics reform continues in the Missouri Senate, some lawmakers worried the legislation might be going too far.
Wednesday's debate centered around an amendment filed by Sen. Jason Crowell, R-Cape Girardeau. Crowell's amendment would require former legislators to wait two years after leaving office before becoming a lobbyist or being appointed to a state departmental position.
Opposition to Crowell's amendment came largely from legislators who expressed concern that restricting former legislators from accepting lobbying jobs would jeopardize the quality of state government operations.
Majority Floor Leader Kevin Engler, R-Farmington, said he worried that making it too difficult for former legislators to become lobbyists would compromise the institutional knowledge of the state government and open up important positions to amateurs.
"Why would we want elected officials to have any experience?" Engler said sarcastically. "Give us retired, un-business-like people who don't have jobs. Don't give us anybody with any experience."
Others, such as Sen. Matt Bartle, R-Jackson County, said stricter rules could also discourage people from running for political office in the first place.
"We are precluding people from service," Bartle said. "It's getting to the point where I'm wondering why anybody with any sanity at all would want to come down here (to Jefferson City)."
Crowell, however, defended the measures taken by his amendment and said a "cooling off period" should be required before former legislators can become lobbyists.
"You do not take pizza from the oven and put it straight in your mouth," Crowell said. "I believe that we should not take our legislative service and put it right in our own mouth."
Crowell said lawmakers should not be entitled to receiving six-figure salaries immediately after leaving the legislature.
A vote on the ethics reform bill and Crowell's amendment was delayed pending further debate of the legislation.
Comments
wiltedrose (anonymous) says...
Not bothered that new bill would eliminate people who are making sure they would get a lobbyist job as soon as they leave office. Maybe they should think about doing their job as a legislator instead of setting themselves up for a better job later.Other jobs have limits on use of knowlwdge from present jobs in future jobs why not government jobs?
February 18, 2010 at 6:06 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Towncar07 (anonymous) says...
Can one ever have too many "ethics"? If I were to say not, then an ethical dilemma would happen at every decision...if yes, then corruption comes into play. What ever happened to Common Sense? It's so common, and it make so much sense.
February 18, 2010 at 8:51 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
iloveny01 (Voltaire) says...
There is no such thing as "too much" ethics. Something is either ethical in nature or it is not.
February 19, 2010 at 2:19 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Tom63010 (anonymous) says...
Where are the Democrats on this issue? I only read of Republicans in this article.
February 19, 2010 at 8:01 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
iloveny01 (Voltaire) says...
Tom63010 - what the???????/
February 19, 2010 at 3:02 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )