Nebraska lawmakers may need to wait two years to become lobbyists

Omaha World-Herald
December 12, 2007
By Martha Stoddard

LINCOLN — Nebraska lawmakers would have to wait two years to lobby their former colleagues under a legislative proposal announced today by Gov. Dave Heineman and State Sen. Bill Avery of Lincoln.

Avery plans to introduce the proposal during the upcoming legislative session, which starts Jan. 9.

The proposal is intended to inspire greater public confidence in government, the two men said. It is not targeted at any individual.

"It is in the best interest of the public that there is some period of time between when you are in office and when you become a lobbyist," Heineman said.

Nebraska currently has no restrictions on elected officials leaving office and moving immediately into working as a lobbyist. The federal government, at least 29 other states and several cities have waiting periods.