Lobbyist: Money in politics is ‘the mother’s milk of our republic’
During this morning’s portion of the Legislature’s working group on ethics and campaign finance reform meeting today, Co-Chair Fred Wood, R-Burley, opened up the floor to public comments, but with no advance notice, few were prepared to speak. The audience, however, was full of lobbyists. Wood asked the members of the lobbying corps if they wouldn’t like to speak.
First up was Greg Casey, longtime head of BIPAC in Washington, D.C. and a former head of the Idaho Association of Commerce and Industry. “The more rules that you have, the more shady spots there are to hide,” Casey told the lawmakers. Sen. Michelle Stennett, D-Ketchum, told him she disagreed with the idea of unlimited contributions to a candidate from a single entity, even if they’re reported, due to the risk of corruption. Casey responded, “As long as the people who are the voters know from where the support comes from, it’s really their decision whether a campaign contribution constitutes corruption. … I don’t think there’s too much money in politics. I think it’s the mother’s milk of our republic.”
Fred Birnbaum of the Idaho Freedom Foundation offered some “high-level” comments, saying he hadn’t prepared specific testimony. Lynn Tominaga, who represents irrigators, said if Idaho decided to require lobbyists to report their compensation – that’s now not required – it might be difficult to separate what portion of his salary covers lobbying and what portion covers other activities for the groups he represents.
Sen. Todd Lakey, R-Nampa, said he opposed that idea. “I don’t see a need to disclose how much a lobbyist is making for doing their job,” he said.
Stennett proposed that the panel consider barring fundraising during legislative sessions; many already refrain from that, she noted, but there’s no rule banning it. “I think that’s a legitimate point for discussion,” Wood said.
With few volunteering to speak, Wood called for comments from the current president of Idaho’s association of lobbyists; Elizabeth Criner, whose clients include the American Cancer Society, J.R. Simplot Co. and Northwest Food Processors, said the idea of banning PAC-to-PAC contributions could raise some issues. “PACs provide support for your caucus fundraisers – that’s a PAC-to-PAC contribution,” she said. “I think you can get into some very grey areas and create dark places to hide money. … Simplicity and timeliness are very important with respect to making contributions.”
