Times of Northwest Indiana
Each year, special-interest lobbyists gift-wrap tens of thousands of dollars in sporting tickets, meals and trips for state and region lawmakers. The Times and 22 other Indiana newspapers collaborated recently on the Access to Power investigative series, bringing to light this practice that critics contend allows lobbyists to buy favorable votes from legislators. Many of the gift-accepting legislators retort that such gifts buy no real influence.
Whether true or not, the mere perception of gifts and perks bestowed upon legislators opening the door for influence of special interests in lawmaking is enough to require further reforms. Region and state taxpayers deserve representatives and senators who vote cleanly on issues without even a hint of sway from a gifted ticket to the Indy 500 or an all-expenses paid trip to lawmakers from lobbyists.
A poignant example of the problem is illustrated in a corporate gift involving state Rep. Trent Van Haaften, D-Mount Vernon. AT&T paid more than $1,600 for Van Haaften and his wife to attend the Indiana Inaugural Ball in Washington the night before Barack Obama was sworn in as president. Three days later, the wined and dined lawmaker introduced legislation to create a statewide mapping system for high-speed Internet access -- a move hailed by AT&T executives as their top 2009 legislative priority. The company also paid for Van Haaften to attend a San Antonio golf tournament, throwing in a $350 pro shop gift card for extra measure. The Internet mapping bill eventually became law.
Our region lawmakers aren't above accepting gifts from lobbyists, either. A review of state gift disclosure records shows 21 state legislators with Northwest Indiana home districts collectively received nearly $10,000 in gifts, sports tickets and meals from the same people and entities who actively work to influence votes in state House and Senate chambers.
Allowing legislators to accept gifts of any kind from corporate and special interest lobbyists immediately creates perceived conflicts of interest, whether it's a $50 sporting event ticket or a $1,600 trip. As Indiana lawmakers consider various reforms in the upcoming legislative session, they should turn their attention to measures that would ban any such gifts. All lawmakers and voters must ask themselves why certain people are serving in the state capital. If true service to the people of Indiana is the goal, adopting gift bans should come as an easy decision. If such a measure can't muster the votes of the majority, our region legislators should adopt personal policies against accepting such gifts, and voters should consider replacing all who fail to do so.