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Lobbyists have every right to vigorously represent the industry or interest that sends them to Harrisburg or Washington, D.C., or wherever else puts them in close proximity to lawmakers.
That’s just the way our system works.
And if you don’t like it, remember the average Joe also has plenty of ways to be heard. (Voting is one of them; being an informed, active citizen and taking part in all that entails is another.)
So, we certainly do not harbor any ill will toward lobbying as a concept or those whose job it is to practice that particular trade in the hallowed halls of our Legislature.
All that being said, one recent change at the state House seems like it was long overdue.
We published a story last weekend about lobbyists getting the boot from a special area they previously frequented at the back of the House chamber.
Known as the “lobbyist room,” it was essentially a taxpayer-financed perk that allowed a level of access to lawmakers that just doesn’t sound right.
“For decades, lobbyists could sit there in a handful of comfortable chairs, watch floor proceedings on TV, print out copies of legislation and send messages to lawmakers in the chamber through a House page who was effectively assigned full-time to this task during floor sessions,” according to an Associated Press report.
See what we mean about the situation just not sounding right?
House Clerk David Reddecliff didn’t like it either.
And as the House’s chief administrative official, he had the power to do something about it.
Without even telling the room’s regulars, he closed down the special area and it stayed closed despite some loud complaints.
“I’ve always felt uncomfortable having a special ornate room at the back of the House chamber … designated a ‘lobbyist room,’” Reddecliff said.
He went on: “I don’t think that in 2019 the taxpayers should be providing a copier, a computer, a TV, a room and a person in the form of a page to do your bidding.”
Reddecliff is completely correct and we applaud his decision.
But on the other hand, it’s ridiculous it took so long to finally take action.
Supposedly, the public also had access to this special room and the perks it offered.
However, we don’t know if any citizen actually knew that or would find it practical to take advantage of it since most of us spend the majority of our waking hours trying to earn a living.
Access is a big part of the game for lobbyists.
Let them try to gain it through any legal means they can.
But don’t force the rest of us to pay for it.
That seems only fair, and we hope this remains a permanent change at the Capitol.
Fortunately, the state Senate has no similar room for lobbyists.
Unfortunately, lobbyists still have the means to perhaps unfairly influence our legislators.
That’s because lawmakers have refused to approve a comprehensive gift ban, which means any of them can accept items of unlimited value from those whose job it is to curry favor to get what they want from state government.
You read that right: anyone in the bloated 253-member Legislature can accept gifts of any value.
Hard to believe, but true.
Making the House room off-limits is just scratching the surface here and represents the concerns of just one unelected employee.
We all should be concerned, however, about the great potential for abuse that still exists in Harrisburg.
— Times Leader