Current No Gift List
Rep. Jason Murphey-Guthrie
Sen. Jim Halligan-Stillwater
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Reason for a No Gift List
This blog is a neutral site.
I would like to host a list of legislators who have made the campaign promise to promote good governance. Several representatives and senators have promised their constituents that they would either not accept personal gifts from lobbyists or very few.
Often, gifts are mailed to a legislator's house, left at their office and legislative assistants are forced unnecessarily spend resources tracking down a lobbyist and returning the gift. Sometimes, lobbyists wrongly reports of across the board gift giving which include these legislator's names even if they refused to accept the gift. This inaccurate reporting makes it appear as if they have not kept their pledge.
A no-gift list would actually create a clear disclosure by which Legislators and Lobbyist could establish a firm relationship based on professionalism. In this new relationship, we can and start to put an end to the perception that Legislators and Lobbyists engage in an inappropriate game of quid-pro-quo.
Not every legislator will want to be on this list. But, many might. So far, there are two Oklahoma legislators who have told me that they want included on this list: Rep. Jason Murphey and Sen. James Halligan.
If the Oklahoma Ethics Commission website would link to this blog, there would be a clear list of those legislators who are on the list.
Rep. Jason Murphey said he would take the lead in placing legislators on this list. He will refer to this list and I would place the said legislator on this list.
This blog would not be here to promote an agenda, but only to update the list from time to time as it is deemed necessary to maintain a current list of individual legislators who do not want to accept gifts.
A "No Gifts List" is about disclosure!
What could be more transparent than a system that simply forbids lavishing gifts on elected officials?
I would like to host a list of legislators who have made the campaign promise to promote good governance. Several representatives and senators have promised their constituents that they would either not accept personal gifts from lobbyists or very few.
Often, gifts are mailed to a legislator's house, left at their office and legislative assistants are forced unnecessarily spend resources tracking down a lobbyist and returning the gift. Sometimes, lobbyists wrongly reports of across the board gift giving which include these legislator's names even if they refused to accept the gift. This inaccurate reporting makes it appear as if they have not kept their pledge.
A no-gift list would actually create a clear disclosure by which Legislators and Lobbyist could establish a firm relationship based on professionalism. In this new relationship, we can and start to put an end to the perception that Legislators and Lobbyists engage in an inappropriate game of quid-pro-quo.
Not every legislator will want to be on this list. But, many might. So far, there are two Oklahoma legislators who have told me that they want included on this list: Rep. Jason Murphey and Sen. James Halligan.
If the Oklahoma Ethics Commission website would link to this blog, there would be a clear list of those legislators who are on the list.
Rep. Jason Murphey said he would take the lead in placing legislators on this list. He will refer to this list and I would place the said legislator on this list.
This blog would not be here to promote an agenda, but only to update the list from time to time as it is deemed necessary to maintain a current list of individual legislators who do not want to accept gifts.
A "No Gifts List" is about disclosure!
What could be more transparent than a system that simply forbids lavishing gifts on elected officials?
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