Articles
Lobbying Reform
By: Paul Stam, Representative of the 37th District
June 30, 2006
To the Editor of the Raleigh News & Observer
Dear Editor:
Your editorial “The Lobbying Flop” June 30,
2006 exhibits a profound misunderstanding of the bill and
the underlying law.
The Bill (HB 1849) “Lobbying Reform” passed the
Judiciary Committee unanimously and has 7 sections, each of
which tightens or clarifies regulations on lobbying.
Your objection is to the amendment which drastically limits
the amount of political contributions that lobbyists can
make but does not outlaw them entirely. Under current law
anyone, including lobbyists, could lawfully contribute to
the campaigns of North Carolina state lawmakers for the
November elections a total of $680,000. Fortunately no one
spends that much. Under my amendment (adopted unanimously)
the limit is reduced from a cumulative $680,000 down to a
cumulative $4,000 for registered lobbyists.
Some liberal groups pushed for a complete ban on
contributions from lobbyists while allowing their own rich
patrons to have no similar limit. But that would violate
state and federal constitutional laws called the First
Amendment and the Declaration of Rights. Indeed, this very
week the United State Supreme Court struck down a
contribution limit in Vermont because it was so low that
speech was stifled.
Your editorial suggest that legislators pass a complete
ban, which we believe to be unconstitutional, under the
“attitude” that the court can decide. That
position, too prevalent in past years, would violate our
solemn oaths of office which each member takes to maintain
and defend the constitution.
If the House passes this bill it will be a small step
toward restoring the trust of the people in the way the
Assembly does business.
Sincerely yours,
Representative Paul Stam
P.O. Box 1600
Apex, NC 27502
Tel: 919-362-8873
Email: pauls@ncleg.net
The writer represents Southern Wake
County in the North Carolina House of
Representatives.
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