Council Panel Puts Off Decision on Lobbyist Rules

A City Council panel balked Monday at a proposal to prohibit elected officials from acting on issues involving lobbyists who also serve as their political consultants or fund-raisers.

The Rules and Elections Committee delayed sending the proposal to the full council for at least 45 days, deciding that more study is needed.

“How are we possibly going to enforce all of this?” asked Council President Alex Padilla, chairman of the committee.

The proposal also would require elected officials to abstain from voting on a matter involving a lobbyist who has made or delivered $1,000 to any political committee controlled by the official in the prior 12 months.

LeeAnn Pelham, the head of the city Ethics Commission, which has approved the proposed new rules, told council members: “Our goal . . . was to help ensure that those seeking governmental decisions don’t perceive that they have to participate financially.”

Pelham said the rules also would encourage elected city officials to make decisions based on merit without weighing who has helped them raise funds or get elected.

The reforms are in response to a story in The Times that detailed how two-thirds of the council members used political consultants who doubled as lobbyists seeking help for clients from the officials they helped elect.

Councilwoman Cindy Miscikowski said she generally supports the concept. But she joined Padilla in voicing concern about extending the rules to issues involving lobbyists who have made donations to nonprofit organizations at the officials’ behest.

That rule was proposed after Councilman Nick Pacheco asked lobbyists to contribute thousands of dollars to a nonprofit group that he set up after his election.

Padilla and Miscikowski said they were worried the rule would prevent elected officials from urging lobbyists to contribute to legitimate charities.

“That’s the one element that causes me pause,” Padilla said.

Both he and Miscikowski have, in the past, paid political consultants who have worked as lobbyists at City Hall. Padilla asked the council’s chief legislative analyst to report back in 45 days.