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.
Editorials
For lawmakers, how much is too much?
- Editorials
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A positive step for public schools
Indiana is one of 10 states granted waivers last week from provisions of the federal No Child Left Behind law. The waiver appears to be a step forward for schools across the state.
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An outstanding community effort
United Way of Cass County announced this week that it had raised more than $600,000 in its most recent campaign. The campaign’s success is a testament to the generosity of local residents and to the great work of the United Way and its member agencies.
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Another step forward for local trails
Local officials broke ground this week on the planned Eel River Run from downtown to Riverside Park. The project will expand a trail system of which the community can be proud.
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White should not return to office
The conviction of Indiana’s secretary of state on charges of voter fraud has left Republicans and Democrats fighting over who will hold the office. No matter how the fight comes out, Charlie White’s ouster from office should be permanent.
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A grand success for Indianapolis
The just-ended Super Bowl was the result of decades of preparation. Indianapolis left a great impression on the thousands of visitors who descended on the city.
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Should schools teach creationism?
The Indiana General Assembly is considering a measure that would allow public schools to teach creationism as long as they include instruction on other reliigious theories. Broadening the instruction to include other religions might address constitutional concerns, but the result might be a class the law’s supporters didn’t envision.
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Giving every child a chance
Students from Columbia Middle School delivered a message of inclusion in a play last weekend. The message is one that can’t be repeated too often.
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Testing lawmakers a good idea
A measure requiring drug testing for welfare recipients would also require drug testing for legislators. If lawmakers are going to impose such a requirement on welfare recipients, they should be willing to stand up to the same measure.
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Peru delivers important message
The city of Peru collected $20,000 last year from property owners who failed to keep their yards mowed. An aggressive enforcement effort can help the city’s finances, but the benefits go beyond dollars and cents.
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Jail GED program a great step
The issue
The Cass County Sheriff’s Department has begun offering GED
classes for its prisoners.
Our view
The department, and society at large, will see a huge return on that
investment. - More Editorials Headlines
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A positive step for public schools
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