Lobbyists are spending much less cash wining and eating Oklahoma lawmakers because the COVID-19 pandemic continues to vary how the general public, together with paid lobbyists, interacts with their representatives.
Just lately launched Ethics Fee studies present spending by lobbyists is on the lowest ranges since a minimum of 2015.
Lobbyists spent virtually $187,000 the primary 4 months of 2023, in keeping with the most recent disclosures. Almost $400,000 was spent at this level in 2019.
The drop comes as lawmakers added COVID-19 protocols that included social-distancing necessities, fewer seats in committee rooms and a masks requirement for guests to the general public — a rule many lawmakers have ignored.
Lobbyist spending was additionally down final yr after COVID-19 precipitated lawmakers to droop that session as instances started climbing in April. However this yr’s whole continues to be operating beneath 2023.
Stories present that lobbyists haven’t slowed down an excessive amount of in shopping for meals, drinks or presents to particular person lawmakers. Many have pulled again, nonetheless, on their spending on greater occasions.
Solely $26,600 has been spent up to now this yr on occasions that each one lawmakers are invited to attend, reminiscent of receptions or come-and-go lunches. In typical years, greater than $100,000 is spent on these occasions.
An Oklahoma Watch evaluate exhibits the common lawmaker has taken in a mean of $727 value of meals, drinks or presents as of Could 1.
Among the many different findings:
- Republicans took in additional ($788 per lawmaker) than their Democratic counterparts ($465 per lawmaker).
- Of the 15 lawmakers who acquired essentially the most, all had been Republicans.
- State Sen. Casey Murdock, R-Felt, took in excess of every other lawmaker, in keeping with Ethics Fee studies. He acquired greater than $3,640 in meals or presents — a mean of almost $76 for on daily basis the Senate had been in session.
- Different lawmakers who reported excessive quantities embrace Sen. Cody Rogers, R-Tulsa; Sen. Roger Thompson, R-Okemah; Sen. John Michael Montgomery, R-Lawson; Sen. Chuck Corridor, R-Perry; and Sen. Invoice Coleman, R-Ponca Metropolis. All of them acquired a minimum of $2,000 value of presents for meals.
- Solely two lawmakers — Reps. Rick West, R-Heavener, and Tom Gann, R-Inola — didn’t obtain presents or meals from lobbyists.
Receiving meals or presents from lobbyists isn’t the one manner that lawmakers can profit through the session.
In contrast to another states, Oklahoma doesn’t have a broad ban on marketing campaign fundraising through the session.
State legislation bans lobbyists and the businesses or teams using them from making or promising to make marketing campaign contributions through the session.
Nothing stops people of their private capability or from political motion committees, so long as the PAC doesn’t make use of registered lobbyists.
An Oklahoma Watch evaluate of the most recent marketing campaign filings, which incorporates donations by means of March 31, exhibits 60 lawmakers have taken in additional than 1,000,000 {dollars} mixed in marketing campaign contribution for the reason that session began originally of February.
Fundraising within the second half of the session might be disclosed when marketing campaign finance studies are filed by the top of July.
The most important earners had been: Home Price range and Appropriations Committee Chairman Kevin Wallace, R-Wellston, who collected $11,700; Sen. John Haste, R-Damaged Arrow, who collected $11,400; and Rep. Eric Roberts, R-Oklahoma Metropolis.
Trevor Brown has been an Oklahoma Watch reporter since 2016. He covers politics, elections, well being insurance policies and authorities accountability points. Name or textual content him at (630) 301-0589. Electronic mail him at [email protected]. Comply with him on Twitter at @tbrownokc
The publish Amid COVID, Lobbyist Spending Drops in Oklahoma appeared first on Oklahoma Watch.
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