Bob CollinsSen. Dick Day, R-Owatonna, announced today he’s leaving the Senate to become a lobbyist for the group trying to bring a “racino” — a horse track and gambling casino — to the Twin Cities.
Minnesota doesn’t have a law — as Congress does — banning legislators from lobbying activities for a year after they leave office.
The Star Tribune’s Capitol expert, Lori Sturdevant, thinks it might be time to consider the idea:
Day is by no means the first legislator to leave office at midterm and take a lobbying job. But as a former minority leader, he is making a particularly visible move — one that’s sure to renew calls for restrictions on lawmakers’ ability to abruptly become pleaders among their former colleagues. The ability of interest groups to dangle offers of lucrative positions in front of the legislators whose votes they are soliciting has come under fire from reformers both in St. Paul and in Washington.
But the lobbying world is not of much interest to former lawmakers, judging by the relatively few who are registered lobbyists. A very quick glance today revealed:
Kevin Goodno (91-02)
John Hottinger (91-02)
Phil Krinkie (91-06)
Gary Laidig (73-82)
Bert McKasy (83-88)
Mary Joe McGuire (89-02)
Roger Moe (71-02)
Steve Novak (75-00)
Douglas Peterson (91-92)
Leonard Price (83-02)
Julie Sabo (01-02)
Russ Standon (73-78)
Robert Vanasek (83-92)
Charles Weaver (89-98)
Tim Wilkin (99-06)
Tom Workman (93-02)
A 2005 Center for Public Integrity survey put the number at 50, but very few had gone directly from legislating to lobbying.
Could some organization dangle a job in front of a legislator in exchange for favorable action on legislation? Sure, but why would you make it obvious by taking a lobbyist position, where your ties are right out there in the open under current Minnesota law?
