by Timothy Currie - The Legislative Gazette
[March 6, 2000]

Charles Juntikka, representing the New York City Bar Association, and Erik Joerss of Common Cause/NY, called for tougher lobbying law and noted that holes in the Swiss cheese are as plentiful as those in legislation approved by the Assembly. [Gazette photo by Andy Smith]

      Some of the state's good government groups think that current lobbyist gift-giving laws are a little cheesy.

      Representatives from the New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG), Common Cause, and the League of Women Voters, joined the Association of the Bar of the City of New York in criticizing the State Lobbying Commission for considering interpreting the $75 gift limit as "$75 per occasion" rather than the $75 per year suggested by the State Ethics Commission. The groups compared the loopholes to "Swiss cheese."

      "It is our strongly held view that an interpretation of the gift restriction found in the legislature law should track the State Ethics Commission's interpretation of the Public Officer's Law. A restriction based on the $75 gift limit applying only to individual incidents would render the restriction meaningless, with loopholes so numerous as to render 'restriction' to be no more than Swiss cheese," the groups said in a joint release.

      The groups illustrated their point by symobolically slicing a hunk of Swiss cheese and delivering a slice to lawmakers attached to a "Commitment to Public Integrity."

      If a lobbying law were adopted similiar to the one that is being considered by the lobbying commission, the groups said, a lobbyist could conceivably spend "$74 on breakfast, $74 on lunch, $74 on dinner and $74 on an entertainment ticket each day and still fall within the legal limit."

      But David Grandeau, executive director of the State Lobbying Commission, reminds the group that it is the lobbying commission's job to interpret the law, not to change it. He reminds the groups that no where in the Assembly law was a time limit mentioned.

      According to the groups, reform could be jump started if the Assembly would abide the gift limit of $25 now used in the Senate. But according to Charles Juntikka, spokesperson for the Association of the Bar of the City of New York, strict legislation should be enacted ensuring that gift giving is forbidden.

      "While this voluntary compliance is admirable and should be encouraged, it is no substitute for a comprehensive lobbying reform law with effective enforcement and a significant cap on gifts," Juntikka said in a statement. "The Senate and the Assembly must enact new legislation to show a true commitment to lobbying reform."

      Barbara Bartoletti, a representative from the League of Women Voters, believes that getting this promise from lawmakers is all the more important as budget negotiations convene. According to Bartoletti, this is the perfect time for lobbyists to present gifts to influence legislation, making it especially crucial that changes be made.

      Grandeau responded to the Swiss cheese protest in an equally light-hearted fashion.

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Gov. George Pataki
(800) 371-0555
Took $2000 in tobacco contributions

Hon. Sheldon Silver
(888) 894-3737
(Ask for Dan Conviser)
Took $2500 in tobacco contributions

Silver's Sham Gift Ban Bill

Sen. Joe Bruno
(888) 894-4652
(Ask for Mike Avella)
Took $3500 in tobacco contributions