Every
state has laws regulating lobbying, but almost all of those laws apply
to lobbying members of state legislatures, not attorneys general. For
the most part, states never anticipated that their chief legal officers
would be the subject of aggressive pressure from big businesses and
special interests.
But
that’s all changed now. Politics at all levels has become dominated by
those with enough money to spend lavishly on electing public officials
and then pushing them for favors. In a recent investigative report,
Eric Lipton of The Times revealed that an entire industry has sprung up
to lobby state attorneys general on behalf of companies that are under
scrutiny, or that need special legal benefits from a state.
The
companies give hundreds of thousands of dollars (and often much more)
to the campaigns or political funds set up to elect the attorneys
general. Once in office, many of these officials are treated to
expensive vacations at resort hotels, where they mingle with the
lobbyists who are trying to cut deals for their clients.
The
position of attorney general is often both extremely powerful and
relatively low-profile, making it a perfect target for lobbying. These
officials regulate corporations, enforce consumer protections and
environmental laws, and bring civil suits against lawbreakers, often
collectively. Many of them handle prosecutions and criminal appeals, and
represent state agencies in court.
Last
year, after more than 30 attorneys general began investigating
deceptive advertising by 5-Hour Energy, the caffeinated drink, the
company hired Dickstein Shapiro, a national law firm that has a large
practice dedicated to lobbying attorneys general. The firm has given at
least $730,000 to their campaigns in the last five years, and executives
of the drink company have given more than $280,000. Dickstein began
working on attorneys general one by one, and had success: In Missouri,
Attorney General Chris Koster pulled out of the investigation after
being pressured by a Dickstein lawyer at a fund-raising event held at
the Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel in California.
Mr.
Koster, a Democrat, has also been the subject of successful lobbying
campaigns by two other Dickstein clients, Pfizer and AT&T, and is
now the subject of a legislative investigation into his actions. He has denied any wrongdoing, and on Wednesday announced that he would no longer accept donations or gifts from lobbyists, or from the subjects of his investigations.
The
attorney general of Florida, Pam Bondi, a Republican, has accepted
nearly $25,000 in airfare, lodging and meals to attend meetings of the
Republican Attorneys General Association, all of which was paid
indirectly by corporate donations. At these meetings, she regularly met
with lobbyists for industries that she regulates, and she has dropped
several investigations into clients represented by Dickstein. Last year,
after Ms. Bondi took a free ride to a resort that was paid for, in
large part, by Dickstein, she invited one of the firm’s lobbyists to stay at her home
while recovering from surgery. The Florida Commission on Ethics is
investigating whether Dickstein illegally lobbied Ms. Bondi, because it
is not registered as a lobbyist in the state.
The
Times investigation showed that lobbyists have written draft legal
filings that were used by attorneys general in court cases, and have
even done legal work for their offices. At least one attorney general —
Bob Ferguson of Washington State — personally solicited a donation from
5-Hour Energy after joining the investigation against the company,
leading the company to complain that it was being shaken down for money.
For
state lawmakers, fixing this mess will have to go beyond investigating
individual cases. State lobbying laws will have to be expanded to cover
attorneys general; already, many states barely police gifts to
legislators. (Ten states allow officeholders
to take gifts of unlimited value.) States also need to put lower limits
on how much a donor can give to an attorney general’s campaign, or even
consider making the job an appointed position, as it is in seven states. Big-money politics should not mix with state legal power.
Corruption is Corruption and when the LAW is this corrupt, then there is no LAW there is only Corrupt LIE YERS and this faction is as UNCONSTITUTIONAL as IT gets, Time for CITIZENS' LAWYERS!!
ReplyDeleteThere is no LAW there is only Corrupt LIE YERS and this faction is as UNCONSTITUTIONAL as IT gets, Time for CITIZENS' LAWYERS!! Corruption is Corruption and when the LAW is this corrupt, then that's "What It Is" ("Buddha said that")!