In this March 26, 2013 photo, Georgia Rep. Dustin Hightower, R-Carrollton, left, and Les Hammond, legislative liaison for the Department of Driver Services, speak in the Capitol in Atlanta. Some Georgia officials cashed in on lobbyist gifts before a ban took place Wednesday.ATLANTA – Lobbyists bought a few last rounds of golf, sporting tickets and other perks for Georgia’s public officials before new rules took effect Wednesday that cut down on at least some of that spending.
The new rules generally ban lobbyists from spending more than $75 at a time on public officials or giving them free tickets to games, concerts and other recreational events. Still, there are plenty of loopholes that will allow for significant influence peddling even after the General Assembly reconvenes this month for its annual 40-day session.
Republican Gov. Nathan Deal signed the new rules on May 6. It created an awkward lag. While the state’s top-ranking political leaders supported an end to unlimited lobbyist spending, the old system remained legal until New Year’s Day. Several politicians accepted gifts during this delay that would be illegal, or at least questionable, once the new restrictions start.
For example, Sprint lobbyist Patrick Muchmore gave Rep. Don Parsons, R-Marietta, Falcons football tickets worth $340 on Nov. 10, according to lobbyist filings with the state’s Ethics Commission. Parsons has influence over legislation that affects Sprint because he is chairman of the House Energy, Utilities and Telecommunications Committee. Parsons did not return a call seeking comment, while Muchmore deferred comment to a Sprint spokesman.
Those who supported tighter rules on lobbyist spending were not surprised that politicians did not voluntarily scale back.