For former senators, lobbying could be delayed

Lincoln Journal Star
December 12, 2007
By JoAnne Young

A state Republican and Democrat came together Wednesday to announce their support for a proposal establishing a waiting period between when elected officials leave office and when they can become paid or unpaid lobbyists.

Republican Gov. Dave Heineman and Lincoln Sen. Bill Avery, a Democrat, said they believe a two-year waiting period would prevent perceptions that government is not working in the best interest of the public.

“The public is already quite suspicious of government,” said Avery, who intends to introduce the bill.

He said the proposal is not directed at any one individual and he is not accusing anybody of wrongdoing, or even saying the practice is widespread. But in light of term limits, it could become a more frequent practice for senators and others to use their connections to benefit clients.

Heineman said past attempts to put a waiting period into state law have been aimed only at state senators. This one would include people in such elected offices as governors, attorney generals, auditors, regents and state Board of Education members.

“Government should be above reproach,” he said.

Lincoln Sen. DiAnna Schimek remembers when she and Sen. Curt Bromm of Wahoo tried to pass such a “revolving door” law a number of years back. Once it hit the legislative floor, she said, it didn’t go very far.

Some senators at the time were incensed about a law telling them what they could or could not do after leaving office, she said. They considered it a slap in the face.

“I think it would be a good thing to do,” she said.

Bromm, who is now a lobbyist, said he doesn’t think much has changed since previous bills were rejected, in terms of such a law passing.

“I don’t really see a problem here that needs fixing,” Bromm said. “I don’t see that it makes a tremendous amount of difference whether you’ve previously served. It’s all a matter of how you approach the solution to a problem.”

Schimek said the issue is mostly one of perception, she said. Most senators do not intend to leave office and lobby.

“But you do pick up a lot of expertise,” said Schimek. And some senators give up good jobs to be in the Legislature and have no job waiting when they leave.

Many states, and the federal government, have waiting periods that range from six months to two years.

Congress had been looking at increasing the waiting period for senators and representatives from one to two years, but dropped the plan this summer.

Heineman said two years was chosen for the proposed legislation because it is a higher standard.

Nebraska has an open form of government that impresses people in other states, Avery said.

“This is another way to support that openness,” he said.