For lawmakers, how much is too much?

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November 21, 2009

Anonymous Pharos-Tribune Sat Nov 21, 2009, 03:06 PM EST

Should members of the Indiana General Assembly be allowed to accept gifts of unlimited value from lobbyists? For those responding to last week’s online poll, the answer was a resounding no.

But how much is too much?

A group of more than 20 newspapers launched an editorial campaign last week saying that the limit should be $50. During the most recent session of the legislature, every area lawmaker accepted more than that.

By searching reports filed with the Indiana Lobby Registration Commission, The Indianapolis Star found that various interests spent more than $24 million over the course of a year trying to influence Indiana lawmakers.

Sen. Brandt Hershman, a Republican from Monticello, led the list of area lawmakers by accepting gifts totalling more than $1,900. AT&T; provided him with two sets of tickets to the Red Bull Grand Prix valued at nearly $800. He also got sporting event tickets worth more than $600 from the Indiana Energy Association and tickets worth almost $400 from IPALCO, and he accepted a dinner worth $109.70 from MySmartgov.org.

Second on the list was Rep. Eric Turner, a Republican from Marion, with gifts totalling nearly $1,600. He accepted sporting event tickets for himself and family members valued at more than $1,400, and he accepted a dinner from IPALCO valued at $136.80.

Sen. Ron Alting, a Republican from Lafayette, accepted $880 worth of Colts tickets from the Indiana Statewide Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives.

Rep. Rich McClain, a Republican from Logansport, accepted from IPALCO tickets, refreshments and miscellaneous dinners valued together at more than $625, and Rep. Douglas Gutwein, a Republican from Francesville, accepted from Duke Energy food and beverages valued at more than $400.

Sen. Randy Head, a Republican from Logansport, accepted $336.29 worth of food, beverages and tickets from Duke Energy, and Rep. Bill Friend, a Republican from Macy, accepted nearly $240 worth of sporting event tickets from the Indiana Energy Association and a dinner worth $136.80 from IPALCO.

Rep. Tom Dermody, a Republican from LaPorte, accepted nearly $300 worth of Colts tickets from Duke Energy, and Rep. Don Lehe, a Republican from Brookston, accepted tickets and refreshments worth $122.74 from IPALCO.

The total gifts accumulated by local lawmakers are hardly the most dramatic.

House Speaker B. Patrick Bauer, a Democrat from South Bend, accepted gifts totalling more than $5,000, including a $3,000 trip to Puerto Rico provided by the Indiana Motor Truck Association and an $1,100 trip to President Obama’s inauguration provided by Roche Diagnostics.

Republican Sen. Mike Delph of Carmel, on the other hand, had accepted no gifts from lobbyists during the reporting period.

Maybe $50 is too low. Perhaps $800 worth of Colts tickets is no big deal.

But where do we draw the line? When it comes to currying favor with legislators, how much is too much?

If you have an opinion on this topic, now would be a good time to weigh in. Send a letter to the Public Forum, or better yet, get in touch with your state legislators.

The issue

Indiana lawmakers routinely accept athletic tickets and other favors from lobbyists.

Our view

If you have an opinion on the practice, now would be a good time to let our legislators know.

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For lawmakers, how much is too much?

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