PANEL CAUTIONS LOBBYISTS; DIRECT DONATIONS BANNED AT CITY LEVEL.Byline: Patrick McGreevy Daily News Staff Writer In a long-anticipated action, the Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. Ethics Commission In the United States, an Ethics Commission is a commission established by State law to discourage dishonest practices by their public employees and elected officials. Almost all American states have such a commission. put City Hall lobbyists on notice Monday that their political contributions no longer can be accepted by elected officials they seek to influence. The written advice letter issued by the commission formally establishes new city rules based Using "if-this, do that" rules to perform actions. Rules-based products implies flexibility in the software, enabling tasks and data to be easily changed by replacing one or more rules. on Proposition 208, the campaign-finance reform measure approved by the state's voters last November. The city commission had postponed enforcement of the ban on lobbyist contributions so lawyers for the state and city could clarify the meaning of language in Proposition 208 on the issue. The release of the city notice was welcomed by James Knox His Most Reverend Eminence James Robert Cardinal Knox (2 March 1914 - 18 July 1983) was a Roman Catholic Cardinal and former Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments. , executive director of California Common Cause, which co-sponsored the initiative. ``It's meant to cut off the link between lobbyist influence and legislative policy,'' Knox said. ``They (commission) made the correct decision that implements the will of the people.'' During the period when the new rule was being clarified, elected city officials continued to collect lobbyist contributions. ``We hadn't been enforcing it, pending clarification by the state,'' said LeeAnn Pelham Noun 1. Pelham - a bit with a bar mouthpiece that is designed to combine a curb and snaffle bit - piece of metal held in horse's mouth by reins and used to control the horse while riding; "the horse was not accustomed to a bit" , deputy director of the city Ethics Commission. City Hall lobbyists, their firms and their clients contributed $22,896 to elected officials and candidates during the first three months of this year. There was no breakdown to show how much came directly from the lobbyists. However, lobbyists no longer will be able to make direct contributions, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. the seven-page advice letter dated Aug. 12 and made public Monday by the commission. Pelham said the state Fair Political Practices Commission recently issued a clarifying opinion that indicated the ban applies in cities as well as the state level. Ethics Commission Executive Director Rebecca Avila said the commission is interpreting Proposition 208 as prohibiting elected officeholders and candidates ``from soliciting or accepting a contribution from, through or arranged by a person registered . . . as a state or local lobbyist'' if the lobbyist engages in lobbying the government agency for which the elected official is seeking election. While backers hope the effect of the ban likely will be to reduce the influence lobbyists have on city officials, lobbyists have filed three lawsuits challenging Proposition 208's restrictions as unconstitutional unconstitutional adj. referring to a statute, governmental conduct, court decision or private contract (such as a covenant which purports to limit transfer of real property only to Caucasians) which violate one or more provisions of the U. S. Constitution. . ``Lobbyists are private citizens and they have just as much right to make contributions as anybody else,'' said James Sutton James Sutton may refer to:
``We have bribery bribery Crime of giving a benefit (e.g., money) in order to influence the judgment or conduct of a person in a position of trust (e.g., an official or witness). Accepting a bribe also constitutes a crime. laws against people buying votes,'' he added. Sutton said the ban on lobbyist restrictions violate their rights of free expression. ``There are less intrusive ways to reduce the influence of lobbyists,'' he said. At the same time, Sutton said the city advice letter still does allow lobbyists to advise clients on contributions and allows lobbyist firms and clients to make contributions. |
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