Panel OKs Lobbyist Restriction

The Los Angeles Ethics Commission gave final approval Wednesday to proposed rules that would bar elected officials from voting on issues involving lobbyists who also serve as their political consultants or fund-raisers.

The new regulations, which will be considered by the City Council, also would apply to issues involving lobbyists who have made donations to nonprofit organizations at the officials’ behest.

The recommended rules were welcomed by campaign reform advocates, including Jim Knox, executive director of the watchdog group California Common Cause.

“It’s an important reform,” Knox said. “Lobbyists are afforded additional leverage when they work as campaign consultants for the people they lobby.”

However, the new rules are expected to face a chillier reception from City Council members whose actions would be limited by the measures.

Council President Alex Padilla would not commit to a position on the proposals. “We will give them full consideration,” he said.

Councilman Nick Pacheco said he might be able to live with the rules but questioned whether they would infringe on 1st Amendment free speech issues.

One of the rules was proposed after The Times reported that Pacheco asked lobbyists to contribute thousands of dollars to a nonprofit group that he set up after his election. The Times also reported in February that two-thirds of the City Council members had hired political consultants who later returned to City Hall to lobby on behalf of other clients.

The proposed rules would require greater disclosure of fund-raising by lobbyists and prohibit council members from acting on contracts involving firms and their principals that have contributed $1,000 or more to their campaigns.