How lobbyists spent $1M entertaining lawmakers during session
This piece by reporters Kaitlin Lange and Ryan Martin of State Affairs is important. We need to see which of our legislators is abusing the system by allowing special interests to sway their decision-making. However, lumping all lobbyists in the boat of self-seeking opportunists is incorrect. Also, making the polar argument that there are good a bad legislators based on their relationship with lobbyists is not only unhelpful, it’s destructive.
In full transparency, I’m a lobbyist for GIMA. I am registered with the state and have the same annual reporting requirements to disclose money our organization spends on lobbying as do the big wigs spending big money. For 2023, my disclosure included parking on the days I was at the statehouse, and that was pretty much it!
Lobbying is not bad. In fact, it is an essential part of our democratic process. Without lobbying efforts, many (if not most) of our state legislators would be unaware of the eviction crisis in Indiana. They would not know that Indiana is one of only 6 states with no rent escrow or rent withholding laws. They would not know that the faith community considers housing a core, human rights issue that is not treated as such in Indiana. Of course lobbyists seek to sway legislators - that’s their job! Lobbyists aren't the problem as much as the system that allows them to wield influence by using money and favors.
While I appreciate investigative journalism and its attempt at uncovering corruption (which certainly exists), we need to read this and other reports with a critical eye. Yes, we should question Rep. Bob Morris’ 10 meals paid for by Barnes and Thornberg lobbyists, Sen. Rod Bray receiving $3,398 in sports-related entertainment paid by lobbyists, and Sen. Chris Garten’s $4,000 in gifts from Norton Healthcare to attend one Chicago Bulls game. These and others listed in the article are egregious abuses of power. But let’s not throw the baby out with the bathwater! I see many lobbyists at the statehouse doing necessary work to educate and enlighten lawmakers to issues they otherwise would not know, representing the voiceless in our society.
