Off the Beat: Lawmakers as Bait to Lure Lobbyists
Hawaii State Ethics Commission Executive Director Les Kondo recently explained a blunt reality about the value of Hawaii’s lawmakers.
Kondo’s comments came at a March 16 commission meeting to discuss a proposed law regulating gifts to lawmakers. The commission decided to oppose the that would allow politicians and state employees to accept free tickets to fundraisers from charities.
Kondo said legislators attending fundraisers for free act like bait for lobbyists, who have the money to purchase tickets to get their ear.
“Where the legislator also plays the important role, is the incentive or the bait,” Kondo said, referring to lawmakers attending fundraisers. “If they can’t be brought by the lobbyist, it’s my speculation, my assumption, that if they are invited by the event, the lobbyist still comes because they get access to the legislator. I’m speculating — and no one says this because I think it would leave a bad taste in people’s mouth for people to understand that the state official is being used as the bait to attract people to come to the event — but as a practical matter, I think that’s probably reality.”
Kondo’s quote was refreshingly honest — or disturbing — depending on your take. Kondo exposes a little-spoken-of element of political culture, how charitable organizations use lawmakers to help with their fundraising.
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