Rules to Live By (Not Laugh At)

In light of a recent record fine against a major company for campaign money-laundering, there’s been renewed interest in Los Angeles City Hall in trying to control the influence of lobbyists. No advocate of good government would ask for anything less. But that doesn’t mean that any rule or regulation regarding lobbyists is a sound one.

For instance, the city Airport Commission has adopted a new reporting requirement that mandates that all staffers note any contacts with lobbyists. Mayor Richard Riordan has also imposed such rules in his office, requiring that all mayoral staffers report contact with lobbyists to Chief of Staff William McCarley, and the mayor is considering whether to impose a simliar rule on all city employees and commissioners by executive order. Councilman Joel Wachs has also proposed an ordinance that city employees and commissioners be required to keep written public records of all their contacts with lobbyists.

Currently, lobbyists must register with the city, disclosing their clients, the issues they are representing and how much they are paid for their services. There’s no question that too many lawyer-lobbyists now get around the law by citing attorney-client privilege.

But the city should tread carefully before imposing blanket rules on city employees. As onmipresent lobbyists often casually chat with officials and staffers during and after meetings, Wachs’ measure would require, as one city employee put it, everyone “to walk around with a pad and pen.” Disclosure laws are important, but they must be laws that are respected and enforceable--and not absurd.