Wallingford opposes lobbyist ban, calls it 'job obstruction'

Missouri senators removed a one-year ban on lobbying from a bill Thursday that is part of a legislative effort to repair public trust in government.

The vote was 18 to 14 to remove the prohibition from a House-approved plan to impose a one-year waiting period for members of the House and Senate to become lobbyists.

State Sen. Wayne Wallingford, R-Cape Girardeau, was among the majority of senators who voted to scrap that provision.

Senators instead approved an amendment that would allow lawmakers to become lobbyists immediately after their legislative terms end. Wallingford voted for the measure, which passed 31-1. The amended measure now goes back to the House for debate.

The Republican lawmaker said voters expect their representative to serve a full, two-year term and their senator to serve a full, four-year term. But he argued there is no reason to put a roadblock in the way of former lawmakers who might wish to become lobbyists.

Senators started debating the bill Wednesday at the state capitol in Jefferson City, Missouri. Wallingford said the senators spent about four hours Thursday debating the measure.

In arguing against the one-year ban, Wallingford said he told his colleagues on the Senate floor the measure should be called "the job-obstruction bill or a career-barrier bill."

Wallingford said he sees no reason someone who has completed his or her legislative term should have to wait a year to take a job as a lobbyist.

"This is a free society," he said.

He said statistics indicate few legislators become lobbyists.

"It didn't seem really to be an issue," Wallingford said, adding neither he nor most of his colleagues are looking for new careers as lobbyists.

Wallingford said nothing in the ethics bill would prevent lawmakers from resigning in the middle of their terms to take non-lobbyist positions in state government.

Several more ethics bills still await Senate action. But Wallingford said none of the bills can ensure every lawmaker will act ethically.

mbliss@semissourian.com

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