Comments about ‘Oversight muddles gift-giving law’

I think that the legislators and their families should be required to include any gifts as part of their income for tax purposes. An article a few years ago stated that the average member of the state legislator gets $1,300 dollars in gifts. A few weeks before that there was an article stating how celebraties who got "swag" to show up to events were needing to declare the value of the gift as income.

First off, gifts need only be claimed as income if they are greater than $13,000 in value and the giver informs person receiving it they must claim the excess portion. Otherwise, the gift giver pays the tax. But only if total of all gifts given to that specific person is over $13,000 each year.

I lobbied as a student for more funding for state schools at the legislature years ago. We got our access by providing a lunch and doing a presentation during the lunch. That way, the business was done at the Capital and we got more people to show up. We never took them golfing, bought them expensive Jazz tickets, and wine or dined them off site. To be honest, I have no idea why this is required because it is not. Buying a meal and doing a presentation is really the best way to get it done. The other stuff may be fun, but not required. And tell me, why show a people's representative get special treatment when they serve us? Those fun things only serve their own wants.

It is pure jealousy that tells us that someone who has what we don't have should not have that.

When an elected official gets a few perks, we all of a sudden think that they shouldn't have them, because they serve us and it isn't fair.

Well too bad!

Life is not fair! GET OVER IT!

The truth of the matter is quite simple. With thousands of registered lobbyists, who by the way work for all of us indirectly by supporting things that most of us benefit from either directly or indirectly, the legislators cannot meet with them all.

In some cases you can sponsor a large gathering, and that can work if you have the budget for it. Some do not. Some may only have the budget for a couple of Jazz tickets and a lunch to get their point across. The legislators do business during these times.

And so what if a grateful lobbyist gives a gift? When you get a gift from a grateful sibling, friend or parent, are you somehow a cheat, a liar and a scoundrel? Of course not!

So why treat legislators and lobbyists different than any other personal relationship?

Gifts and bribes:

In this context, it is well for elected officials to remember the old saying, "There's no such thing as a free lunch," or even a free pencil. While many scoff at the idea that a pencil or notepad from a developer may influence political decision making, one question needs to be answered: Why does the developer go to the trouble and expense of making these items?

Political decisions are supposed to be made on the merits of the case, not based on whether or not the decision maker has received a lovely gift from one of the parties. This is a simple matter of fairness. When decision makers take gifts, even if their votes are not influenced, they give the appearance of being on the take, which undermines public confidence in government.

On the other side, such gifts may well influence officials when they need to determine whether a certain bill should pass. Also, such gifts can create a slippery slope, with officials coming to expect VIP treatment and making local businesses feel coerced into offering it so that they can receive a fair hearing.

Lobbyist influence is a growing problem for all of us. Historical behavior tells us that legislators are not able to control themselves and continue to use lobbyists to build campaign funds.

We need to demand that lobbyists limit their spending or citizens will be left out of the "democratic" process.

Although the changes were minimal in the new law, it should stand that these gifts remain banned.

Now these legislators are crying because they have been cut off of their bribery and gifts, let them pay their own way just as the citizens must do. Living within your means is much harder when gifts are not available. If lobbyist want to make proposals to legislators then make them do it during office hours and in the legislators office where its open to public record.

This only goes to prove that our legislators do not read their own legislation before signing the bills and don't fully understand the consequences they impose on the citizens. A legislator wrote this bill with the full knowledge of what it says now the others are offended that they can't get anymore free tickets to ball games. Boo hoo, what a teary eyed shame.

These public officials and their so infuriated reaction to limiting their gifts only goes to prove how much corruption we have in our state government.

I agree with the last post. Legislators need to serve their constituents and stop taking expensive gifts from lobbyists. The fact that they voted for the law that allowed the east-side Jordan District members to create their own district without the vote of the west-side Jordan District citizens--a decision which is costing taxpayers millions of dollars--shows how out-of-touch they are with democratic rule and fairness.

Legislators need to spend more time listening to those they represent and less time listening to lobbyists.

The legislators won't hear about this story. They and their families are in Philadelphia on their free vacation provided by you taxpayers.