As proposed by Representative Carol Spackman-Moss (D- Holladay, District 37), H.B. 103 is designed to force a sort of “cooling off” period between the time one is in office and when they are able to lobby on behalf of a particular cause.

As it stands today, any elected official or uppitie-ups can become a registered lobbyist the day after they leave office; in some cases they are lobbyists while in office (Howard Stephenson *cough* *cough*). With the passage of this bill no one would be allowed to participate in active lobbying measures until one calendar year of leaving elected office. The law would apply to any state elected official, the governor’s cabinet, and the governor’s high-ranking staff.

Why is this bill important? Well, a cooling off period allows these officials time to break away from some of the associations they have made while in office and gives other lobbying groups who may not have the clout to hire a former elected official a more level playing field. Furthermore there is the chance of corruption on the part of the elected officials – is it to hard of a scenario to imagine a lobbyist whispering in the ear for a lawmaker to push for a bill in exchange for a cushy job post election?

This law does not harm current lobbyists and does not harm current elected officials, all it does in put into place a few safeguards that allow less of a good ol’ boy club up at the legislature. I hope this passes, but, as I always seem to mention in posts concerning lobbying, I don’t think it will – the interests are just to entrenched.