Reader comments: Curtail gifts from lobbyists

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Mike Richards | 8:02 a.m. July 24, 2008
There is no reason for a government official to receive any "gift" from anyone at anytime for anything. That includes something as small as a hotdog at a baseball game.

The gift may not persuade the government official to change his vote, but it creates a "defacto" friendship between him and the gift giver.

Keep things equal for all constituents and outlaw all gifts, no matter how small.
citizen initative | 8:23 a.m. July 24, 2008
The republican controlled legislture is not going to ever do any kind of ethics reform.
The only way is for there to be a citizen initiative which bans any gift regardless of value.
transparency | 8:44 a.m. July 24, 2008
They should be able to keep and receive anything they want from lobbyists as long as every transaction is published. Keeping track of every lunch or knick-knack would be inconvenient for Sen. Stephenson and others but the public would finally know who is persuading whom and keep that in mind each election year.
Comments continue below
Johny Fairplay | 8:47 a.m. July 24, 2008
Agreed.
EdM | 10:05 a.m. July 24, 2008
The author hits it on the nose.

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